California Traffic Deaths Down 22 Percent since Handheld Cell Phone Use Banned

By Kelly Balamuth on March 22, 2012

California banned handheld cell phone use state-wide in 2008, becoming one of the first U.S. states to take such a step. Since then, the number of people who have lost their lives in California fatal car accidents has decreased 22 percent, according to a recent article in the U.K. Daily Mail.

The decrease, which was documented in a study by the UC Berkeley Transport Research and Education Center, attributes the decrease in overall traffic deaths to the banning of handheld cell phone use. The study also notes that the number of deaths in which cell phone use was determined to be the main cause of the crash is down 47 percent in California since the ban was enacted, providing further evidence that keeping Californians’ hands off cell phones and on the wheel has improved roadway safety.

However, law enforcement officers say there is still much work to be done to decrease deaths and injuries in distracted-driving accidents. They point out that too many Californians still talk or text while driving, and that for maximum safety, it’s best never to use your cell phone in any way while you are driving a vehicle. Instead, have someone else in the car send or receive calls for you, or wait until you have stopped driving before checking your phone’s missed calls, messages, or texts.

Cell phones are just one type of driver distraction that can result in a fatal crash. Other electronic devices, eating, weather, loud music, or dealing with passengers can also take crucial driver attention off the road just when it’s needed most to prevent an accident. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, call Balamuth Law today. Our skilled Berkeley auto accident injury lawyers can help. For a free consultation, call us at (888) 254-1234.