Frustrated by the number of Virginia drivers you see every day more focused on calling, texting, eating, reading, and engaging in other distracted driving behaviors?
You are not alone. The problem of distracted driving – that is, focusing on anything and everything BUT the road – has gotten a lot of attention at the federal level. On September 21, 2010 Washington D.C. will be host to the second National Distracted Driving Summit, as announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Distracted driving really is a problem. In 2008, the NHTSA estimates that almost 6,000 people lost their lives and over 500,000 were injured in a distracted driving crash.
At this year’s summit, topics will include research on distracted driving, new technology aimed at curbing the problem, policy changes that may help, public outreach campaigns, and best practices in enforcing existing distracted driving laws.
Progress is being made. Federal employees are banned from texting while driving government-owned vehicles or while driving any vehicle on official government business. They may not use mobile devices issued by the government behind the wheel, either. Many businesses have adopted similar rules, in attempt to keep busy workers from trying to multi-task when they should be driving.
The federal government has also banned texting while driving for commercial truck and bus drivers, and many state and local governments have started enacting or have continued to enact cell-phone and texting restrictions or bans.
Every year, the NHTSA estimates that at least 20 percent of ALL crashes involved some kind of driver distraction – and that could be an underestimate.
Not only are law enforcement, transportation officials, safety advocates and researchers getting together to discuss what can be done about distracted driving. Victims of distracted driving accident and their families have also been invited to attend. Nothing puts distracted driving in perspective like speaking with the mother or husband or child of a person who was killed because somebody could not keep their eyes on the road.
If you or someone you love was hurt by a distracted driver in Culpeper, Warrenton or elsewhere in Virginia – there is hope. While we cannot reverse the damage from a serious wreck, we can help you pull the pieces of your life back together so you can move on with the medical care you need and the financial assistance you deserve.
DULANEY, LAUER & THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
