While few Missouri drivers would advocate eliminating DUI laws, Missouri has one of the most permissive policies in the U.S. when it comes to the dangerous conduct of distracted driving. It was at about this time last year that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that Congress enact a national ban on all use of electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. Despite this proposal, Missouri law imposes no limits on cell phone use by adult drivers and only limited restrictions on drivers under the age of 21.
Missouri distracted driving laws restrict commercial drivers, but a prohibition on texting by underage drivers behind the wheel constitutes the only limits on cell phone use by non-commercial drivers. Nonetheless, talking and texting while driving may pose a greater risk to those on the streets and highways of Missouri than intoxicated drivers. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah, drivers who talk on cell phones while operating a motor vehicle are 5.36 times more likely to be involved in a collision than drivers who are not distracted. This is approximately the same increased probability that a drunken driver will be involved in a collision. This study along with another study conducted by researchers at the University of Utah found that so-called “hands free” driving is no safer than handheld cell phone use.
Texting drivers pose an even more significant risk of causing a distracted driving accident when traveling the roads of Missouri. Almost a third of all drivers admit to sending, reading or composing texts while driving, and almost one in five drivers admit to engaging in this unsafe practice on a regular basis in a national Health Day poll. These distracted drivers cause an enormous toll in human life and life-altering injuries. Simulations involving drivers texting while operating a motor vehicle reveal that drivers frequently travel the distance of a football field in the average five second interval used to respond to a text message.
While data on the specific number of injuries and fatalities associated with text messaging and driving is unclear, federal safety agencies estimate that 6,000 people per year die because of distracted drivers while another 500,000 suffer injuries. While these numbers may seem alarming, they are growing as portable communications devices like mobile phones, iPads, Kindles, tablet computers and other similar gadgets become more affordable.
Drivers who are distracted by mobile phones can cause traffic collisions in a wide range of ways, such as:
- Running a stop sign or red light
- Failing to notice stopped traffic
- Drifting out of the driver’s lane of traffic
- Non-compliance with right of way rules
- Lack of recognition of potential road hazards or obstructions
While this is not a comprehensive list of driving errors committed by motorists dividing their attention between cell phones and driving, the list contains some of the most common causes of serious car accidents in Missouri. If you or someone you love is injured or a family member dies in a collision caused by a distracted driver, our experienced Kansas distracted driving accident lawyers are committed to holding irresponsible drivers accountable for the injuries they cause. Our legal team offers a free consultation to evaluate personal injury legal claims so call us today to learn how we can help.