New Brunswick Car Accident Lawyers: Proposed Distracted-Driving Ban
When New Jersey State Assemblyman John Wisniewski recently reintroduced a three-year-old bill that would fine distracted drivers, the media misrepresented it, telling readers that they would be punished for drinking coffee in their cars. This bill would give police officers the power to ticket drivers caught doing anything that “interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2014, distracted driving caused 18 percent of car accidents resulting in injuries and 10 percent of all fatal crashes that year. That was the fifth consecutive year that eating, drinking, applying makeup, changing the radio station, using a cell-phone, and any other activities that constitute distracted driving were the leading cause of fatal car crashes in New Jersey.
Opponents of the bill say it is too invasive. They believe our vehicles are our personal space, and Americans do not need to be castigated in their own cars. Those challenging the bill say that there is a big difference between driving while texting and enjoying their coffee during the morning commute. Critics of the distracted driving ban claim it is too vague to be effective, and that it opens the door for law enforcement officials to abuse their power when making traffic stops.
The Rising Cost of Distracted Driving
The costs of tickets in this distracted driving ban is also generating controversy. The first offense would cost an offender somewhere between $200 to $400. The second offense levies a fine from $400 to $600. A third offense would carry fines anywhere between $600 and $800, as well as a 90-day license suspension and points.
Proponents of the legislation say that is a small price to pay for a bill that could save countless lives by deterring motorists from doing anything that takes their eyes off the road. Assemblyman Wisniewski says the goal is to educate, not punish drivers. For anyone who has been the victim of distracted driving, or has lost a loved one in an accident, this is surely very important legislation.
New Brunswick Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Advocate for Victims Injured by Distracted Driving
With technology a growing presence in everyone’s lives, drivers seem to do more behind the wheel than driving these days. If you were injured in a car accident caused by a driver who was using a cell phone, you may be entitled to compensation. New Brunswick car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr are committed to achieving the best outcome for your distracted driving case. Call our Highland Park, New Jersey offices today at 732-537-8570 or contact us online. We serve clients throughout Central New Jersey, including New Brunswick, Edison, Somerset, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, and Franklin Township.
