One of the most frequent causes of auto accidents is distracted driving. Distractions come in many varieties, but many accidents involve drivers who were looking at their smartphones instead of at the road.
Given the aftermath of these accidents, law enforcement, legislators and families of those who have been hurt or killed have long sought solutions to address distraction behind the wheel. A growing number of states are passing laws against driving distracted. Recently, Pennsylvania joined them. Still, dangers persist even with the new law and people must be aware of them.
Governor signs law addressing handheld devices while driving
The law signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro outlaws using a handheld device while driving in the state. It is named in honor of a man who was killed in 2010 due to a distracted driving crash. There was already a law in place that banned texting while driving. Now, if a driver is using the device at all for any reason such as scrolling, taking pictures, shooting videos and using email, they can be stopped by law enforcement and fined $50.
There are harsher punishments for more serious incidents such as a crash that results in the driver being convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle. Drivers can still use their device if it is an emergency or they are using it for directions. Commercial drivers and emergency personnel are not subject to this law.
Statistics regarding the dangers of handheld device use while driving were referenced by lawmakers as they touted the law being signed. They say that there were over 11,000 accidents because of distracted driving in 2023 alone. In 2022, there were 80 distracted driving fatalities in the state.
Distraction remains a huge issue
Even with laws in place to dissuade drivers from the practice and cite them if they continue to drive while distracted, many will ignore those laws and think they can use their handheld device safely while operating a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
A key with a distracted driving auto accident is proving that it was the cause of the collision. Accruing evidence can be complicated and requires a deep dive into the circumstances, cellphone records and more. This is a fundamental part of an effective case to make a full recovery. Those who were in this type of accident should consider all options and have guidance as they pursue a claim.
