The Faces if Distracted Driving campaign is going strong through the holiday season to help remind drivers about the dangers, risks and consequences of distracted driving-related car accidents in Chicago and elsewhere.
According to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, this campaign is used to remind drivers that real people around the country are seriously affected every day by distracted drivers. These accidents took the lives of nearly 5,500 people in 2009. Nearly half a million more were injured.The Faces of Distracted Driving campaign is a compilation of the stories of victims through the country. These public service announcements (PSA) have been viewed more than 100,000 times since being launched back in November of 2010.
Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand that traffic is expected to increase significantly over the next few weeks. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, nearly 40 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from their home. About 90 percent of these travelers will be using our roadways to get to their destination. The increase in traffic volume greatly increases your risks for an accident. You’re asked to be cautious and drive with full awareness over the Thanksgiving weekend and throughout the rest of the holiday season.
A recent story on the Faces of Distracted Driving campaign comes straight out of Illinois. The story is from the family of 56-year-old John Sligting. John was killed in an accident back in 2007 when a teen driver sped through a stop sign and right into his motorcycle. The teen driver was using a cell phone during the time of the accident, taking much of their attention off the roadway.
“I thank all of the families of distracted driving victims who have bravely chosen to share their stories of loss with the world,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
LaHood says main message of this campaign is that talking while driving is not worth the risks.
We invite you to check out the campaign and to share it with your friends. Drivers are four times more likely to be in an accident when using a hand-held phone device. Phones, whether they’re hand-held or hands-free, give a driver the same reaction abilities as a drunk driver and we all know who dangerous that is.
In 2009, it’s estimated that about 20 percent of car accidents in the U.S. involved a distracted driver. Of the 5,500 fatal distracted driving-related accidents during that year, nearly 1,000 of them reported the use of a cell phone as the type of distraction. Although drivers under the age of 20 are most likely to be in a distracted driving accident, drivers of all ages are surely affected by this dangerous habit.
In the state of Illinois, drivers are prohibited from using a hand-held phone in a construction zone or in a school zone. All bus drivers and drivers under the age of 19 are banned from ever using a cell phone behind the wheel, except in emergency situations. The City of Chicago has banned all drivers from using a cell phone behind the wheel.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, all drivers in Illinois are prohibited from texting while driving.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident with a distracted driver, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
More Blog Entries:
Fatal Car Accidents in Chicago and Elsewhere Cost Residents nearly $300 Billion, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 1, 2011
NSC Recognizes Illinois Resident for Efforts in the Fight against Teen Car Accident in Chicago, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, October 27, 2011