A ban on text messaging, while at the wheel, was proposed for interstate truck and bus drivers. This is a follow up call on measures that will reduce crashes that, in many cases, have serious consequences – including fatalities.

The proposal would make permanent the current interim ban that had been announced in January, by the Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, which applies to all drivers of commercial trucks and buses weighing over 10,000 pounds. A driver caught violating this ban would face possible civil and criminal penalties.

Safety advocates, as well as the government, have pushed for greater restrictions as cell phones, mobile electronics and vehicle navigation systems have become more commonplace in cars and trucks. Reports from the Transportation Dept. indicate that 5,870 were killed along with 515,000 injured in 2008 as a result of driver distraction, which, in many cases, involved the use of cell phones and other mobile devices.

A study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has shown that a driver who sends and receives a text message will take their eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds, while texting. If the speed of the vehicle is 55 per hour, it translates into the vehicle travelling the length of a football field without the driver looking at the road. This can easily result in a catastrophic auto accident.

MVAs such as these frequently occur in our local cities such as Frisco, Plano and McKinney, TX. If you’ve suffered an injury or property damage in the DFW metroplex or Dallas TX area as the result of a car accident, you should consult with an experienced local personal Dallas injury lawyer.

Our personal injury law firm will offer an initial free legal consultation regarding your potential personal injury case. If you, or someone you know, has been injured you should contact a Dallas, Texas personal injury lawyer, without delay, to know your legal rights regarding compensation for your medical expenses and lost wages. Call Texas Personal Injury Lawyer Kristopher Barber at (972) 231-5800 for more information or you click here to contact him by email.

DALLAS, TX – Common sense tells us that driving while using cell phones can cause car accidents.  But now, new evidence suggests that it is a problem as bad a drunk driving.

A study in which some participants were tested while drunk and others while talking on a cell phone showed interesting results.  The motorists who talk on cell phones while driving are as impaired as drunk drivers.  Some of the participants crashed in a virtual vehicle while sober and talking on a cell phone.  None of them crashed while drunk.

The study supports previous research that revealed the dangerous risks of using cell phones–even the hands-free variety–when behind the wheel.  “We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit,” said Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Utah.

Previous studies have shown that as many as 2,600 people are killed every year in automobile accidents involving drivers on cell phones.  In surveys, only about 10 percent of drivers admit that they sometimes talk on cell phones while driving.

Near fatal collisions occur every day in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex.  Many cause severe injuries, brain damage, and even death.  Many times, car accidents like this happen due to the negligence of the driver who was talking on a cell phone, texting, or even driving while intoxicated.

If you have been involved in a car accident in Dallas, Texas, or the surrounding areas, an experienced-local personal injury attorney can help you.

Our Accident Injury law firm offers free consultations on personal injury cases. If you or someone you know has been injured, you should contact a Dallas County personal injury lawyer immediately so that you will know your legal rights and can determine what insurance coverage may be in place to cover your medical expenses and lost wages. Call our DFW office at (972) 231-5800 for more information.