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NTSB Recommends Full Ban On Cell Phones While Driving

by on December 13, 2011 in Accident, car accident, cell phone ban, National Transportation and Safety Board, NTSB, texting ban, texting while driving

A federal board meant to overlook safety on roadways across the country made an unprecedented recommendation Tuesday morning that all states should ban the use of non-emergency cellular devices of any type by all drivers.

The only exception was those designed to assist drivers, such as GPS devices.

This comes after the NTSB reviewed a multi-vehicle crash in Grays Summit, Mo. that occurred in August 2010 on Interstate 44. The accident involved two passenger vehicles and two school buses and left two people dead and 38 people injured.

Cell phone records of one of the drivers showed frequent text activity via cell phone and led the board to conclude that driver was likely distracted by texting at the time of the accident. Eleven text messages were sent or received in eleven minutes by the driver just prior to the accident. The driver was killed in the crash.

According to officials, the 19-year-old driver of the pickup crashed into the back of a tractor trailer. His truck was then rear-ended by a school bus, which was then rear-ended by another school bus.

If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may have the basis for a personal injury case. Contact the Chicago auto accident attorneys at Dwyer & McDevitt, Ltd. today and we can help lay out your options.

NTSB Meeting Summary >>

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New PSA To Warn Teens Of Texting While Driving

by on November 29, 2011 in Accident, accidental death, car accident, teen driving, texting while driving

A new public service announcement geared toward teens and texting while driving is set to run in time for the holidays.

The United States Department of Transportation revealed the campaign “OMG,” Monday to help spread the message that texting while driving is not only dangerous, but can be deadly as well.

Two versions of the PSA are set to run. One will run in Regal movie theaters across the country, while a more somber one will run on 12,000 gas pump screens near busy roadways.

According to the government site, distraction.gov 5,474 people were killed in 2009 in crashes where a driver was distracted and nearly 50,000 were injured. Also, in June 2011, more than 196 billion text messages were sent, which was up nearly 50 percent in two years.

Research has found that sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent-at 55 mph-of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured, or your loved one has been killed by a texting or otherwise distracted driver, our lawyers may be able to assist you. Contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at the law office of Dwyer & McDevitt, LLC today for your free, initial consultation.

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