Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As we recently reported on our Illinois Injury Law Blog, distraction-related car accidents took the lives of more than 3,100 people in 2010. While this statistic reveals a decrease from the previous year, there are still far too many drivers engaging in distractions behind the wheel. To help to reduce these stats even more, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that all state governments enact a law prohibiting drivers from using any and all portable electronic devices at the wheel. Yes, this recommendation even includes hands-free phones. Recent studies conclude that hands-free devices are just as distracting to drivers as hand-held devices.

This measure would go beyond anything currently being pushed in any state. Illinois law prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones for any drivers who are driving through a school zone or in a highway construction zone. In addition to those areas, bus drivers and drivers who are under the age of 19 are prohibited from using a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Administration. In the City of Chicago, it is illegal for any driver to talk on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. It is illegal for any driver in the state to text message while driving.

Our Chicago car accident attorneys understand a statewide law banning drivers from using cell phones may be inevitable, but experts don't think it's going to happen here any time soon. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says a ban would not have the political support needed to pass the General Assembly, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“There’s no question that it’s a distraction from driving,” Cullerton told the paper. “With the increase in technology use while people are driving, it’s a real diversion.”

Cullerton believes strongly in traffic safety though. He helped pass Illinois' first seat belt law back in 1984. He just doesn't think that this type of overall ban will go over well with the public and lawmakers. Yes, most drivers recognize the dangers associated with distracted driving, but most are willing to give up the dangerous habits.

The state passed a ban of text messaging for drivers just a few years back.

In a recent survey, 1 out of every 10 drivers admitted to texting and e-mailing behind the wheel. Half of the drivers under the age of 21 surveyed admitted to engaging in this dangerous behavior. Statistics reveal that at any given moment in time, 1 out of every 100 drivers is text messaging, web surfing, Facebooking or Twittering behind the wheel.

Slowly, states are enacting stricter distracted driving laws. But the truth is that some of the most dangerous distractions involve talking to other passengers, playing with the radio and other non-electronic distractions.

The Chicago Tribune reports that it's not more laws that we need to make our roads safer, but it's better enforcement of the one's that we already have.