The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is launching a new campaign to warn teens of the dangers of distracted driving, according to USA Today. The DOT has created a public service announcement (PSA) called “OMG” that will air at movie theaters and various gas station pumps with video screens across the country. The PSA is designed to reach teenagers using imagery that relates to popular shorthand text messages, such as “LOL” for “laugh out loud.” The PSA features scary driving by teens, such as teenage drivers playing with their smart phones while they drive and chatting with a carload of friends, before a car accident takes place. Teens are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving, which is why Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood feels the campaign is important because it will hopefully “ensure they understand the dangers.”
Distracted driving is the number one killer of teens in America, and statistics show that using a cell phone while driving can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Whether it’s a hands-free or hand held device, using a cell phone can delay a driver’s reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. In addition, sending or receiving a text message makes a driver 23 times more likely to get into a crash; it takes the driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 MPH.
The problem of distracted driving is increasingly a factor in car accidents across the U.S. In 2009, close to half a million people were injured and more than 5,400 were killed in distracted driving-related accidents. As the problem of distracted driving grows, so does awareness, which makes the “OMG” teen campaign an important step in combating the issue. However, it is always up to the driver to choose to be distraction free behind the wheel, and not all drivers may take their safety and the safety of others seriously.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s negligent actions, the car accident lawyers with Massey & Associates, P.C. can help you receive compensation for your injuries. Please call (423) 396-0720 for a free consultation.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
