The United States Department of Transportation says that almost 5,500 people died and half a million were injured in 2009 in crashes involving distracted drivers. A recent accident on Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania brings new life to these staggering statistics.
A dump truck carrying 24 tons of rock salt crashed caused a five-vehicle crash in the Susquehanna township. State police believe the truck driver was distracted, although they have not yet said how. Police investigating the fatal truck accident said that the truck driver never slowed when approaching stopped traffic along Interstate 81.
David Vogen, the driver of one of the other vehicles in the crash, died shortly after the crash; three others were injured. One victim who survived the crash with the dump truck lost one of his best friends. His injuries from the car accident include a compressed disc and he requires additional medical tests to diagnose potential other ailments.
Distracted Driving, Delayed Reactions
Driving instructor Uly Bell says that a car traveling at 60 miles per hour will need 270 feet to stop in three seconds; he says it takes one second to observe and another second to react, even when not distracted. Further, research shows that texting drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, or the equivalent of driving through a football field, inclusive of the end zones, without looking at the road.
State Police TACT Enforcement
Pennsylvania is among the minority of states that has not enacted laws governing distracted driving. Although various municipalities have enacted laws prohibiting texting while driving, the state motor vehicle code supersedes local driving ordinances.
The state is, however, the fifth to participate in the Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) enforcement program, which consists of two-week concentrations of patrolling and ticketing. The goal is to reduce unsafe driving along Interstate 81 in Cumberland and Dauphin counties.
Anyone injured in a car accident that resulted from or involved distracted driving should contact a personal injury attorney to discuss their injuries and whether they are entitled to compensation for their medical bills and lost wages.
