Dangers of Texting and Driving

Recently, Attorney Ben Akery visited Cane Bay High School where he educated their senior students on the dangers of distracted driving. Educating young drivers on the dangers of distracted driving is just one of the many ways that the Steinberg Law Firm is able to give back to the community it serves.

Since texting has taken over as one of the main forms of communication, so has the amount of texting and driving; drivers who engage with just one text will take their eyes off the road for an average of 5 whole seconds.  

On top of this, teen drivers make up a higher percentage of those distracted drivers on the road and are less likely to wear a seatbelt.

Drivers should be aware of all behaviors that may distract from the road ahead to help ensure that they, and their passengers, arrive at their destination safely. Using phone applications, fiddling with the radio or bluetooth systems in a car are all ways that can impair the cognitive function of the driver, even without taking eyes off the road ahead.

South Carolina has laws in place to ensure the safety of current and future drivers. Texting and driving, as well as emailing and instant messaging, behind the wheel has been illegal since October of 2013, and recently, distracted operation of golf carts, mopeds, bicycles, and other vehicles by text communication has been banned in order to keep all commuters safe while they travel.

Although legislation has been working diligently to enforce laws prohibiting distracted behavior while driving, the Department of Motor Vehicles still states that distracted driving is quickly becoming one of the United States most prevalent health concerns with 9 people dying each day.