Effective June 1, 2013, penalties for using a cell phone and texting while driving have increased from a 3-point violation to a 5-point violation on one’s driver’s license. Governor Cuomo has strengthened these penalties and directed the New York State Police to increase enforcement of this infraction in an effort to curb the rising number of cellphone-use-related accidents.
According to statistics from the Governor’s office, there has been a 143% increase in cell phone-related crashes and a six-fold increase in fatal and personal injury crashes involving distracted driving in New York State since 2005. Texting while driving involves both visual, manual, and cognitive distraction, and removes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At highway speeds, that is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field while blind.
In recent years, we have seen a significant number of cases involving accidents caused by cell phone use. Texting, talking on a cell phone, or any type of distracted driving, can lead to devastating consequences, and is particularly tragic because it is entirely avoidable.
If you have been involved in an accident that involves texting or cell phone use please call Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto, and we will be happy to assist you.
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