With distracted driving crashes due to increase with the coming summer, Florida authorities are waging a safety campaign. The Florida Highway Patrol says that there are more car accidents in June, July, and August. According to the Apopka Voice, the months between Memorial Day and Labor day make up the “100 deadliest days” for driving. Teen drivers are responsible for the rise. Crashes involving teenagers kill about 10 people a day during the period.
“The number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers during the summer is an important traffic safety concern and research shows that young drivers are at greater risk and have higher crash rates compared to older and more experienced drivers,” Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director, said. “Through education, proper training, and involvement of parents, we can help our young drivers to become better and safer drivers, which in turn keeps the roads safer for everyone.”
Distracted Driving Crashes Increase Highway Fatalities
According to ClickOrlando.com, there are nearly 50,000 distracted driving crashes a year in Florida. Orange County has roughly 6,000 distracted driving crashes a year, the most in the state. Car accidents kill more than 2oo people and injure about 3,5oo annually in Florida. Sadly, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers, and distracted driving crashes account for most of them. According to safety group “We Save Lives,” 60% of car accidents involving teenagers is caused by distracted driving.
Only four states treat distracted driving as not a primary driving offense. Florida is one. That means that police cannot pull you over and ticket you solely on that basis. State Representative Emily Slosberg (D-Boca Raton) has been advocating to toughen Florida’s distracted driving laws for years. A 1996 car accident injured Slosberg and killed her twin sister along with four other teens. She is calling for a special session of the legislature to make distracted driving a primary offense.
If a distracted driving crash or other negligent action has resulted in pain, suffering, or loss for you, there is help. Contact the Orlando car accident attorneys at Martinez Manglardi. Our Central Florida personal injury attorneys have been fighting for accident victims for more than 30 years. Call 407-846-2240 for a free consultation. Offices throughout Central Florida.
