This comes on the heels of a new poll by Consumer Reports that shows younger drivers are more likely to use handheld devices while driving — and less likely to view them as a danger.

A free guide for parents and educators called “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives” is available at the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s web site Distraction.gov and at www.consumerreports.org/distracted. Copies will be distributed to schools and volunteer groups by the National School Safety Coalition.  The guide also will be highlighted in a Consumer Reports video to air in retail stores across America in April, where it is expected to reach as many as 100 million people.

“Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on America’s roads, and teens are especially vulnerable because of their inexperience behind the wheel and, often, peer pressure,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a press release. “Behind the statistics are real families who have been devastated by these tragedies. We’re pleased to be working with Consumer Reports to raise awareness and help communities fight this problem.”

A new, nationally representative survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center showed how widespread distracted driving is, especially among younger drivers:

• 63 percent of respondents under 30 years old reported using a handheld phone while driving in the past 30 days, and 30 percent of them texted while driving during the same period. That compares with 41 percent and 9 percent, respectively, of respondents who were 30 or older.
• Among the under-30 respondents, only 36 percent were very concerned about the problem of distracted driving, and only 30 percent felt it was very dangerous to use a handheld phone.
• 64 percent of respondents overall said they had seen other drivers texting using a handheld device in the past 30 days. 94 percent had observed drivers talking on a mobile phone and 58 percent had seen a dangerous driving situation related to a distracted driver in the past month.
• 78 percent of respondents overall said they had reduced or stopped behaviors related to distracted driving. Of that group, 66 percent said they did so because of reading or hearing about the dangers.

The survey was fielded in November 2010 with a total of 1026 respondents.

“It only takes a moment of distraction to cause a tragedy,” Jim Guest, the president of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said in a press release. “No text or call is worth a life. We know that educating people about the risk of distracted driving works. This partnership is devoted to spreading the word about the dangers of distracted driving and specific steps you can take to make a difference.”

According to the Department of Transportation, nearly 5,500 people in the U.S. were killed and almost half a million were injured in accidents related to distracted driving in 2009. Eighteen percent of those fatal accidents involved the use of a cell phone.

The free brochure “Distracted Driving Shatters Lives” produced by DOT and CR recommends six steps for parents:
• Set a good example by putting down your phone while driving.
• Talk to your teen about the risks and responsibilities of driving and the danger of dividing their attention between a cell phone and the road.
• Establish ground rules for not texting or talking on a handheld device while behind the wheel.
• Have your child sign a pledge to not use a cell phone while driving, agreeing on penalties for violating the pledge.
• Educate yourself about the problem at Distracted.gov and ConsumerReports.org/Distracted.
• Spread the word by communicating with friends and family.

For more on traffic safety, see the library of articles by Daytona Beach car accident attorney.

There are many different goverment entities that are covered by this immunity.   Some examples are: counties, municipalities, legislature, judicial branch including the public defender and special taxing districts such as Halifax Medical Center.   All of these entities have employees and all of these employees have cars.  If a governement employee causes an autoaccident through negligence while in the course and scope of employment then sovereign immunity will apply. 

These are more complicated cases than dealing with a private individual who causes an accident.  There are more proceduaral requirments including filing a 768.28 notice with teh state.  If you have been involved in a car accident with a government employee and you have questions, dont hesitate to call.

The deceased man’s family brought a lawsuit to determine who was at fault for causing his death.   Was it the person who caused the original crash which caused the back up?  Was it the truck driver who slowed down without using brake lights?   Was it the deceased driver himself for not recognizing the stopped traffic in time?  

The trial court decided that the person causing the original crash could not be responsible for the subsequent death.  The court reasoned that the separation of time and distance were substantial enough to relieve the person who caused the original crash from liability.   Upon appeal of that decision,  the appellate court reversed the trial courts decision stating that a question of fact for the jury existed  as to whether the original crash and subsequent pile up on the interstate caused the drivers death.  The court reminded that large separations of time and distance are not enough standing alone to completely relieve the original driver for liability. 

Therefore, the case is back at the trial level and this Daytona Beach Personal Injury Attorney is curious to see how the jury decides.

The report says that the ailing economy is partially responsible for the decrease.  The downturn in the economy has resulted in less motorists on the roadways, less tourists on the road, and drivers traveling at reduced speeds in a effort to reduce fuel consumption.  

The reduction is also due to improved safety features in cars, law enforcement initiatives such as click it or ticket and tougher traffic laws  and penalties for law breakers.  I make my living representing the families of those killed in traffic accidents in Wrongful Death lawsuits.   I see first hand the devisation that traffic fatalities cause and I am proud of Florida for becoming a safer place to driver, regardless of the reason.

The driver said that he swerved in an attempt to dodge a large animal in the road.  However, a witness said that the truck had been swerving from lane to lane.   Although I rarely hear about 1,000 bags of sweet potatoes spilling out onto the road, semi trucks flip everyday spilling their loads onto Florida’s interstates.  When I drive on the interstate I am especially cautious, when a gas tanker pulls along side of me.   If a gas tanker flips,  there is potential for an extreme catastrophy. 

The transportation of gasoline on roadways is so dangerous that it may result in strict liabilty if a gas tanker crashes and causes harm.   Strict liability is a legal doctrine that says a person can be liable for damage even if the person was not negligent in any way.  Strict liability can arise when an individual is involved in an abnormally dangerous activity or an ultra-hazerdous activity.   There are certain factors to consider when determining whether or not an activity is abnormally dangerous, but one can see that putting a truck filled with thousands of pounds of gasoline onto the interstate system has the potential for horrible consequences.

I believe that a gas compay should be held liable for injuries caused by an exploding gas tanker regardless of whether or not the driver actually did anything wrong.  Simply putting the tanker on the roadways is so dangerous that if an accident happens the gas company should be held strictly liable.