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Kansas City Distracted Driving Accident Prevention Lawyer

The proliferation of the cell phone has caused an unprecedented driving safety crisis across the nation. Safe drivers of the past have now become dangerous driver as they take their eyes off the road and the hand off the wheel to use their cell phone to talk, text, navigate, check email, and a host of other functions. This, together with the fact that cell phone use is habit-forming and additive, has resulted in a new universe of roadway risk.

In the past, States and other transportation officials, have been able address driving safety priorities through media campaigns that target a particular form of outlawed driver conduct. Typically, these campaigns have relied upon laws and law enforcement in an attempt to influence drivers to change their behavior.

Because the costs of enforcing distracted driving laws are high, we can no longer rely upon laws/law enforcement to combat distracted driving. Instead, it will be important that future distracted driving prevention, including anti-cell phone, campaigns emphasize the following.

    1. Alert To Risk

      Surveys and studies show that American drivers will understand the high risk of cell phone use as it pertains to other drivers, but do not perceive high risk when they are using a cell phone while driving.

      Therefore, instead of trying to changing the distracted driver behavior, effective distracted driving prevention begins by alerting drivers to the risk posed by other drivers. Campaigns should be designed to emphasize that drivers protect themselves by driving alert, buckled, cautious, and defensive.

    2. Socially Unacceptable Activity

      An effective method of changing the public perception of cell phone use (or other activities that take a driver’s eyes from the road ahead) is to associate distracted driving with drunk driving. When the dangers of distracted driving are seen as on par with drunk driving, drivers will be less willing to engage in distracted driving because it exhibits socially unacceptable conduct.

    3. Higher Standards

      One of the reasons Horn’s Drive By Example driver safety program is effective is because the phase “drive by example” encourages a higher driving standard. A high driving standard conforms with the legal requirement in many states which requires that drivers exercise the “highest degree of care” in the operation of their motor vehicles. If we are going to make improvement in our driving culture, the driving safety campaigns and initiatives we implement must target all drivers and influence drivers to model a “highest degree of care” driving approach.

Teen Driver Distracted Driving Prevention

Because of inexperience and the tendency to be addicted to their cell phones, teen drivers are very vulnerable for a distracted driving accident. Although current efforts to warn teens of risk associated with texting and other cell phone use been successful, teen driver protection would be significantly enhanced if driver safety education was made part of the Graduated Drivers Licensing requirement.

While it may be too costly to provide professional instruction to teach teen drivers to drive, it is reasonable to expect that driving safety education could be implemented as a part of a teen’s formal high school education.

Attorney Doug Horn is not only advocating for driver safety education, but also that state lawmakers strengthen the Graduated Driver Licensing laws by mandating parent education, engagement, and endorsement in the licensing process.

Adult Distracted Driving Prevention

As of 2014, almost all the distracted driving prevention programs has been targeted to teen drivers. While teen driver are very vulnerable to distracted driving, adults make up the largest number of distracted drivers. As adults become more accustomed to depending upon their smart phones to manage all aspects of their life, the distracted driving problem is expected to get much worse.

Drive By Example stands for the proposition that distracted driving prevention efforts should target all drivers, including working adults. In this regard, driving safety partnerships should be established with private sector organizations, including business firms and corporations. Drive By Example’s Corporate Protection Program is an example of how driving safety can be extended to adult drivers.

In his role as a driving safety expert, Horn regularly contributes to media outlets, including TV, radio, print, and online. For commentary on distracted driving prevention, journalists and reporters can contact Horn Law  at dhorn@hornlaw.wpengine.com or click to call 816-795-7500.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]