oakland auto accident lawyer | Northern California Personal Injury Blog
Even Hands-Free Cell Phone Use Can Lead to Serious Distracted-Driving Accidents
In July 2008, California led the nation in passing a law that banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving a car, but permitted the use of hands-free devices for making calls. Lawmakers reasoned that if drivers were required to keep both hands on the wheel while talking, they would keep better control of their vehicles and be less likely to cause a serious car crash.
However, new research from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and other researchers suggests that’s not the case. Rather, it turns out that drivers who are talking on any electronic device – whether held in the hand, worn in the ear, or broadcast over the car’s speakers – are four times more likely to cause a serious injury or fatal car accident than drivers who aren’t conversing via phone at all.
That’s because the act of conversation distracts the brain, making it impossible to do the constant scanning, focusing, and reacting that are required to drive a car safely, according to researchers. Keeping both hands on the wheel isn’t enough to compensate for the extra “processing power” the brain uses up on the conversation – power that should be used to focus on the road.
Distracted driving is a major source of serious car accidents, many of which take lives. While cell phones are a common distraction, they are not the only one that can cause a crash. At Balamuth Law, our well-trained Bay Area distracted driving accident attorneys are dedicated to helping injured motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians get the compensation they need after an accident. For a free consultation, call us today at (888) 254-1234.
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