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Distracted Driving Is Steered Astray?
For more than a year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has sought to lobby states to recognize the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. Citing increasing injuries and deaths, including the fatal crash of a teenage girl in his own Illinois hometown who swerved off the road while texting, LaHood has fought hard against "distracted driving," even convincing President Obama to ban federal employees from using cell phones while driving. LaHood's efforts, and the support of Oprah Winfrey, have put the mobile phone industry on the defensive, until recently.
Seward Square Group, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, drew up a plan to oppose limiting the use of mobile phones and other devices while driving. The effort was designed to galvanize industry-wide support from mobile phone companies, automakers, handset manufacturers, insurance companies and others to deflect attention and discussion away from distracted driving. The industry maintains that technology should not be banned, but that people should be educated.
The National Safety Council estimates that cell phone use is involved in 28 percent of all crashes, and the campaign against distracted driving has gathered such a huge wave of support that it has muted what a powerful lobby like the cell phone industry can do. The Seward Square proposal was seen as an effort by the industry to retrench and fight back.
Distracted Driving Can Be Deadly
A fatal car crash late last year in Cook County proves that texting is only one of the distractions preventing drivers from keeping their attention on the road.
At about 8:00am on December 27, 21-year-old Araceli Beas struck and killed Raymond Veloz, 70, in South Chicago. Veloz had been involved in a minor fender bender and had stepped out of his car to speak to the driver of the other vehicle when Beas hit him. He died later that day at the hospital.
Tragically, it appears that Veloz's death could have been easily prevented. According to a lawsuit filed by Veloz's daughter, Regina Cabrales, Beas had updated her Facebook status at 7:54am, the same time that Veloz's phone was used to place a call to 911.
Discount Bus Industry Should Put Premium on Safety
When discount bus carriers cut too many corners on safety, they put people's lives at risk. Double-decked Megabuses, in particular, have been involved in at least five fatal accidents in the last two years.
This article will discuss the safety issues posed by curbside bus companies, particularly the operator of Megabuses. More needs to be done to prevent bus accidents caused by these companies. Such accidents do not only injure bus passengers; they put pedestrians and other motorists at risk as well.
Distracted Driving by Illinois Parents Sends Wrong Message to Teenagers
National Teen Driver Safety Week was recently observed during the third week of October as it has been since 2007. This year the campaign focused on how parents can help teach their teenagers to avoid car accidents and drive safer.
However, a survey conducted by auto insurer State Farm that was released during the campaign has produced some disturbing results. Specifically, 53 percent of parents admitted using cell phones or other electronic devices while teaching their children to drive. However, that number could potentially be even higher, since the same survey found 61 percent of teenagers reported their parents being distracted by cell phones while helping them learn to drive.
The survey found similar results in terms of how often parents use cell phones or electronic devices while doing the driving themselves. Although 43 percent of parents admit using a cell phone "sometimes, often, or all the time" while their children are in the car, 54 percent of teens report witnessing this same behavior.
Deadly Trucker Risks: Distraction and Drowsiness
Recently, an 18-wheeler headed southbound on Route 394 near south suburban Crete T-boned a car headed eastbound on Steger Road. According to witnesses, the truck driver ran a red light right before colliding with the car, killing its driver, 32-year-old Kelle Ill. The semi driver was not injured. The cause of the crash remains uncertain and reports from investigators are pending.
Large commercial trucks present a unique danger on the road because of their size, weight and lengthy stopping distance. Unfortunately, fatal accidents involving large commercial trucks are far too common. Government data indicates that 11 percent of the 37,200 people killed on U.S. roadways in 2009 died in accidents involving large trucks. Two leading causes of these accidents are driver distraction and driver fatigue.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
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