Texters beware - a new law in Pennsylvania was just passed. On March 8, 2012, a ban on texting while driving went into effect, carrying a $50 fine. The new law means that police can stop you if you are using a phone, computer, or other device that sends texts, emails, or similar messages while driving. Police cannot seize the item but they can write you a ticket. Governor Tom Corbett stated during his bill-signing event in Harrisburg: “We’ve said it in the past, but today we are making it law: If you have an urgent need to text, you must pull over and park. … No text message is worth a human life. The message of this legislation is drive now and text later.”
Distracted driving in Pennsylvania is a major problem and it is time that more people start realizing how dangerous it can be. This is the first Pennsylvania-state-wide law to take effect about cell phone usage. There is no statewide limit on cell phone use, but some local ordinances do address talking while driving. Philadelphia and Harrisburg are two of the largest cities to have handheld cell phone usage banned, but the ban expires in March 2012.
While distracted driving can affect anyone, it finds the most fatalities among teenagers. In Pennsylvania, in 2010, there were 57 deaths in accidents linked to teenage drivers compared with 40 in 2009. But, Delaware, which, in 2010, passed a full complement of distracted driving laws, saw a 14 percent drop in traffic fatalities in 2010. It’s about time Pennsylvania did something to protect the roads.
The Philadelphia car accident attorneys at Reiff and Bily have been handing distracted driving cases since before talking about them was popular. Distracted driving is an issue that has plagued drivers, young and old, for years. Signs of distracted driving include looking away from the road, rummaging through something on the seat, drifting in and out of lanes, and immediate stops or turns. When drivers are focused on something else, they cannot be fully focused on the road.
At Reiff and Bily, we have the knowledge and the experts to discover if you have been injured in a car accident as a result of distracted driving. Specifically, if you think that you were injured because someone was on their cell phone during the accident, the car crash lawyers at Reiff and Bily may be able to find out. Authorities have the ability to check phone records to see if a call or text was sent during the course of the accident. The new law claims that if this is the case, then the punishment will be more significant, but that is yet to be seen.
The importance of staying of safe on the road is not only about you, but others as well. Distracted driving is a major concern and now Pennsylvania is taking steps to mirror that message. The Philadelphia distracted driving accident attorneys at Reiff and Bily also mirror this message. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a vehicle collision because of distracted driving and you need help, the car accident attorneys at Reiff and Bily are available. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com.