Texas Distracted Driving Summit Ignites Safety Enthusiasts to Push for Tougher Distracted Driving Laws; Houston Auto Accident Lawyer Analyzes Distracted Driving in Texas

Houston Auto Accident Lawyer Ben Bronston

Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 09, 2012

The first ever Texas Distracted Driving Summit, hosted by United Services Automobile Association (USAA) in collaboration with Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Shriners Hospitals for Children, last month, held discussions in an effort to raise distracted driving awareness and reduce distracted driving related fatalities. The summit focused on decreasing texting while driving while also highlighting accomplishments within the past three years for reducing distracted driving fatalities in Texas. Guests included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and the Insurance Council of Texas, who discussed dedicated plans to continue efforts to decrease distracted driving in Texas through passing legislation that would ban texting and driving throughout the state.

Houston city officials and other organizations throughout the state and across the nation have increased efforts to raise awareness concerning using mobile devices while driving. During National Distracted TxDOT launched their second annual statewide “Talk. Text. Crash.” campaign. On a local level, the Houston Fire Department, together with State Farm Insurance, Clear Channel Outdoor, the Houston Police Department and Council Member Ed Gonzalez, promoted the “Texting Distracts – Watch the Road!” campaign.

Houston personal injury lawyer Ben Bronston has seen many distracted driving cases and adamantly fights for those who have been in an accident due to distracted driving. “Governor Rick Perry vetoed House Bill 242 that would have banned cell phone use while driving in Texas, even though the legislation passed in both the House and the Senate. The Texas Distracted Driving Summit gave voice to a dangerous issue even after this legal defeat,” explains Houston auto accident attorney Ben Bronston. “Texans need to keep pushing to reform Texas distracted driving laws to protect the safety of drivers everywhere.”

During Distracted Driving Awareness month, several local, state and national organizations launched distracted driving awareness campaigns in an effort to increase awareness for motor vehicle safety and decrease auto accident fatalities. Since drivers between the ages of 16 to 20 years old lead in distracted driving fatalities among other groups, ahead of adult drivers ages 21 to 34, many campaigns target teens. This includes the “Distracted Driving Design Challenge,” by the U.S. Department of Transportation, and “Pledge to End Distracted Driving,” started by Joel Feldman, who lost his daughter to a distracted driver in 2009. Several of these organizations plan to keep adding to their safety campaigns and implementing new distracted driving campaigns throughout the year.

“On average, a person using their cell phone while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than a non-distracted driver,” Ben Bronston comments. “Passengers also play a vital role in motor vehicle safety, particularly with teens. Its proven teen drivers are less likely to cause a fatal accident if accompanied by an adult passenger; while a teenage driver is three times more likely to cause a fatal car crash when traveling with another teenager in the passenger seat.”

A bill passed this past January makes use of a cell phone by a commercial vehicle driver illegal in Texas. Even though, in the 2011 legislative session, Governor Rick Perry vetoed House Bill 242, legislation aimed at banning text messaging for all drivers in Texas. However, congress added two new restrictions in regards to using mobile devices while driving throughout The Lone Star State. These restrictions ban the use of handheld mobile devices in school zones and prohibit persons under the age of 18 from wireless communications devices while driving.

Distracted driving laws in place prior to the addition of the newer restrictions do not allow state school bus operators to use cell phones while driving if children are present, and during the first six months, driving permit holders may not use cell phones while driving. Some cities such as Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Galveston, Amarillo, Missouri City and Stephenville have extended distracted driving regulations within their communities. The Austin city council, for example, prohibits texting while driving throughout the city.

The summit was held at The Westin La Cantera Resort–Grand Ballroom in San Antonio, April 26, 2012. Other keynote features of the summit included medical experts on the types of injuries caused by distracted driving, presentations by distracted driving experts highlighting effective approaches for corporate strategy concerning electronic devices in commercial motor vehicles, law enforcement approaches and methods used to decrease distracted driving, top researchers on the dangers and statistics of distracted driving and stories by families affected by distracted driving collisions. Texas Distracted Driving Summit was free of cost for participants and complimentary meals were provided to participants.

Ben Bronston of Ben Bronston & Associates is a Houston personal injury lawyer who has practiced law throughout Texas and Louisiana for over 20 years. He represents individuals who have been involved in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, head-on collisions, and high-speed impact crashes as well as persons who have experienced serious injury and/or bodily injury due an auto accident. Ben Bronston handles cases throughout Bellaire, Baytown, Jersey Village, Katy, Tomball and other surrounding areas of Houston as well as throughout Louisiana.

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