Austin Personal Injury Lawyer - Text Messaging While Driving

Learn From Sergio Kindle --- Don't Text And Drive

Brooks Schuelke — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:58:35 GMT

Everyone that knows me knows that I'm a huge University of Texas fan. That's why I was so dismayed tonight to see that Texas star linebacker/defensive end Sergio Kindle suffered a concussion when he drove his car into an apartment building, likely a result of texting while driving. I won't beat a dead horse about how bad of an idea this is because I just had a lengthy post about it yesterday. If you want to know about the dangers, go read that text messaging while driving post.

There are also a number of other posts on this issue that provide more information:

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brooks Schuelke

Do You Have A Teen Driver? Make Them Watch This Today Show Video On The Dangers of Texting While Driving

Brooks Schuelke — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:40:24 GMT

As parents, our job, I think, is to be repetitive on all the lessons that we're supposed to teach our kids that they refuse to learn. Although my kids aren't old enough for constant texting to be an issue yet, I know many of you struggle with that battle.

Unfortunately, you're not alone. Despite study after study finding that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while intoxicated, an estimated 20% of drivers admit to text messaging while driving.

This has to stop. And if your kids won't listen to you, maybe they'll listen to the folks on the Today show so make your kids watch the video. It might save their lives.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brooks Schuelke

Live From San Antonio --- Bus Driver Text Messaging While Driving

Brooks Schuelke — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:43:12 GMT

I've posted before about the dangers of text messaging while driving, but pictures or videos are much better forms of media to convey the risks. And as you might have heard, a San Antonio bus driver was recently fired after the bus's video caught his text messaging lead to a wreck. You should read the article, but watching the video best conveys that dangers posed by text messaging while driving.

Will Austin Ban Text Messaging While Driving?

Brooks Schuelke — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:18:41 GMT

A few weeks ago, young Griffin Jones was seriously injured in a car wreck near Bastrop. His family's car was stopped to make a turn when another vehicle slammed into them from behind at full speed. Griffin's parents believe that the other driver was distracted by a text message.

Unfortunately, text messaging while driving is becoming an increasing cause of car wrecks. In fact, some recent studies have shown that text messaging while driving is more dangerous than driving while intoxicated.

But Austin may be taking steps to address this danger. Yesterday, the City of Austin public safety task force passed a resolution asking the city staff to develop a proposal to ban text messaging while driving. While this is merely the first of many steps, with any luck, it will help make Austin's streets safer.

For more information, you can visit my firm's text messaging while driving resource page.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brooks Schuelke

Text Messaging While Driving Is More Dangerous Than DUI

Brooks Schuelke — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:51:10 GMT

In the wake of revelations that the Metrolink train engineer involved in the deadly collision near Los Angeles was texting while driving his train, a new British study has concluded that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana.

The study, performed by the Transport Research Laboratory, found that reaction time was worse for those texting than those under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, that steering control was far worsened by texting than by driving under the influence, and that texters were much more likely to be traveling too closely behind other cars.

One of the main researchers on the study noted:

When texting, drivers are distracted by taking their hand off the wheel to use their phone, by trying to read small text on the phone display, and by thinking about how to write their message. This combination of factors resulted in the impairments to reaction time and vehicle control that place the driver at a greater risk than having consumed alcohol to the legal limit for driving.

Despite these findings, few states have regulations on texting while driving. Only Alaska, Washington, Louisiana, Minnesota, and New Jersey have full bans on texting while driving. Twelve other states have partial bans (such as limits for those under the age of 18).

If you are interested in this topic, I have a previous blog post with numerous links to articles about text messaging while driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brooks Schuelke