Texting While Driving: A Dangerous Distraction
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A new poll by CBS News shows that nearly all Americans think texting while driving should be illegal. According to the poll, 97% of those surveyed feel the dangers and risks of texting while driving and the subsequent results are enough to warrant punishment.
Currently, in Maine, it is not illegal to text while driving. It is, however, illegal to be distracted while driving. The new distracted driver law which went into effect on September 12, 2009 encompasses all potentially distracting actions. While not illegal to talk or text on the phone, eat, drink, apply makeup or other such actions while driving, it is illegal if one causes an accident or is deemed to be driving distracted by a police officer.
According to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, drivers are 23 times more likely to get in an accident when texting. Many safety experts are comparing texting while driving to drinking and driving. In 2008, nearly 12,000 Americans died in alcohol related crashes, or 31 percent of total road fatalities. Fines for driving distracted are $119.
Though texting while driving is not yet illegal in Maine, it is without a doubt dangerous. Currently, 14 states in the U.S. have a ban on any texting while driving, with many state legislatures investigating the inherent risks. In Maine, it is illegal for a driver under the age of 18 to use a cell phone in any capacity while driving.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the results of distracted driving on a daily basis. If you’ve been injured in an accident by someone else’s negligence, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation. You may be entitled to compensation.
And the next time you’re driving on the highways and byways of Maine, put down your phone and pay attention to the task at hand. In addition to saving you a $119 distracted driver fee, it may just save your life.
For more information on Maine driving laws please visit: http://www.maine.gov/portal/travel/transportation/highways.html
