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We Share Reader Tips from Our “Hands on the Wheel” Giveaway
Anyone who’s been out in public in the last few years knows that Americans are addicted to their smartphones. People use them for texting, posting to social media, playing games, watching movies and videos, surfing the Web, and getting directions; all while walking down the street, standing in line, eating at restaurants, in the middle of conversations, stopped at stoplights, and while…DRIVING? Read the rest »
Join Our Hands on the Wheel Giveaway
As a leading personal injury firm in Seattle, Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., has spent the past 40 years assisting members of the community when they get hurt. Our legal team has witnessed the suffering, devastation, and loss of hope that can result from a careless or negligent act. And our goal is to work within our community not only to seek justice for those who have been injured, but to eliminate needless accidents. Read the rest »
Apps and Driving Don’t Mix – Look at Rising Accident Rates
The disturbing news is that accident rates are rising. But the really disturbing news is how fast they’re rising and by what magnitude.
Traffic fatalities are also on the rise. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), after steadily declining over the last four decades, the percentage of highway accident fatalities in 2015 had its biggest annual increase in 50 years. Why is this increase in deaths and accidents occurring when motor vehicles have been getting safer for years?
Pokémon Go Encourages Drivers to Cheat the System, Resulting in Careless Driving
Pokémon Go is the current craze sweeping the entire world, from Seattle, Washington to Tokyo, Japan. Designed by Niantic after a successful franchise involving a television show, video games, and trading cards, the app seeks to revitalize interest in hunting and collecting rare animals known as Pokémon, evolving them, and then battling other Pokémon at locations known as gyms.
Pokémon Go is, in some respects, an ingenious phone app that seeks to encourage children this summer to get off of their couches and go outside. Many players have lauded the app as helping them lose weight by walking long distances, and others have expressed that the app helped them explore sites and monuments that they never knew existed. With that said, many players have recently realized that they can catch more Pokémon while driving and have thus taken to the roads, staring intently at their phones instead of the road. Read the rest »
Truck Accidents Caused by Distracted Drivers in Seattle
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) doesn’t allow interstate truck drivers to use hand-held devices while driving. Drivers who violate this new ban on texting while driving will be fined, and it could affect their Safety Measurement System results. Using hand held devices while driving is a negligent act that could lead to a serious injury accident. Read the rest »
New Washington State Law Would Prevent All Cell Phone Use
Under current Washington State law, you cannot text or hold your phone up to your ear to make a call while driving. However, you can talk while holding your phone away from ear. There are several gray areas regarding using your phone for reasons other than sending a text or making a call. A new bill recently introduced in the state Senate, however, aims to clear up the gray areas and close the loopholes.
According to a recent news report in the Seattle Press Intelligencer, if the new bill passes, it would eliminate all handling of cell phones while behind the wheel. In fact, drivers in Washington will not even be allowed to touch their phone at a stop sign or red light. The goal of the law is to deter all forms of phone related distracted driving. It will outlaw typing and reading emails, sending instant messages, pulling up websites, and entering phone numbers. The new potential law will, however, allow drivers to call 911 to report criminal activity. Drivers will also be able to use GPS devices as long as they are secured in a hands-free way. Read the rest »
Washington State Patrol Wants Harsher Distracted Driving Laws
Washington State officials were among the first in the country to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and to act upon it. Washington State passed a ban on distracted driving back in 2008. Then in 2010, distracted driving became a primary offense, which means that officers can pull you over just for driving while distracted. Now, officers are calling upon state officials to once again strengthen distracted driver laws statewide.
According to a King 5 news report, the Washington State Patrol wants the distracted driving law enhanced. Under current law, drivers who are using their phone to check stocks or read Facebook do not receive citations. Under the law, only drivers who text while driving are considered distracted. The officers believe that looking at your phone is a dangerous form of distraction no matter how you are using your phone. Read the rest »
Washington Police Join National Crackdown on Distracted Driving
Across the county, law enforcement officers are on the lookout for distracted drivers as part of the month-long “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign. According to a King 5 news report, Washington State has joined the crackdown with high visibility enforcement. They are specifically looking for drivers who are not paying attention to the road while using their cell phones. This includes drivers who are staring at their screen, who are holding their phone in front of their wheel, and those whose faces are lit by their phones while driving.
It is important to deter this type of behavior because distracted driving is a serious problem that results in a number of fatal crashes each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that there were 3,328 people killed in distraction-related crashes in 2012. Furthermore, about 421,000 people were injured in car crashes involving distracted drivers during that same year. Read the rest »
Seattle Police Car Crash Caused by Texting Driver
A driver, who officials say was texting, struck a car that forced a Seattle detective’s unmarked car into a ditch. According to a KIRO TV news report, the distracted driving accident occurred on Interstate 5 near the 200th Street exit in SeaTac. Officials say the driver was texting and let the vehicle drift into another lane where it struck a vehicle. That car then hit the police vehicle carrying a detective and a Seattle Police Department employee. The passenger in the detective’s car was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
Distracted driving is a serious problem all across the nation. When you are making a call or sending a text, you are not focused on the roadway or on the act of driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted drivers injured 421,000 people in 2012. Sending or receiving a text can take your eyes from the roadway for about 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of the length of a football field if you are driving 55 mph. Motorists who are looking at their cell phones are often unable to react to changing roadway conditions or even notice that they are in danger until it is too late. Read the rest »
Study Finds Washington State’s Drivers Are Still Distracted by Cell Phones
One out of every 12 drivers in six major counties in Washington State are still using cell phones or other electronic devices while driving, according to a distracted driving study conducted statewide. A news report in The Seattle Times states that the recently released study, which also shows that half of all drivers text while driving, is the first of its kind.
The study was conducted by the Injury Prevention and Research Center at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Researchers say texting is the worst form of distraction for drivers because it takes the driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and attention away from the act of driving. Read the rest »
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