Nashville Automobile Accident Attorney Announces ‘National Youth Traffic Safety Month”
Texting While Driving
As an experienced Nashville auto accident lawyer I have come to dread one of the downsides of the Spring season. No, it’s not the pollen and the allergies, the April showers that bring May flowers, it’s the rash of fatal automobile accidents that involve teen drivers. Prom weekends begin the season of death.
This year the Tennessee Department of Safety joins the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, National Organizations for Youth Safety, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Association, and Students Against Destructive Decisions to promote National Youth Traffic Safety Month. To kick off the month, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) encourages students to pledge not to drink and drive or text and drive.
“You can have a good time and do it in a smart way,” said Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “Prom, graduation and the beginning of summer are times to celebrate, but don’t let a good time be the last time; pledge not to drink and drive. Not only is it the law, the consequences can be deadly.”
In 2008, 19 people were killed in Tennessee in 18 fatal crashes involving drivers (age 13-19) who had been drinking. A national survey of 11th and 12th grade students finds 90 percent believe their peers are more likely to drink and drive on prom night, but few think that the behavior carries a high degree of risk. The Department of Safety encourages Tennessee youth to join the campaign and speak up for alcohol and drug free proms.
“Texting or talking on cell phones while driving is dangerous to the driver and all those on the roadway around them,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker. “Teens must understand that texting and talking on the phone while driving is against the law and every time a driver takes his or her eyes or focus off the road, even for just a few seconds, they put their lives and the lives of others in danger.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving kills nearly 6,000 Americans a year.
In Tennessee, TCA 55-50-311 stipulates: “Any driver possessing a learner permit or intermediate driver license is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on any highway while using a handheld cellular telephone.” The teen driver is subject to a $50 fine and a 90 day delay in eligibility for an intermediate restricted or intermediate unrestricted driver license. TCA 55-8-19 stipulates that texting while driving and reading a text while driving are against the law for all drivers. The driver is subject to a $50 fine. Since January 3, THP Troopers have issued 51 citations for texting while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of fatalities among teens in the United States. Nationally, teen drivers (ages 13-19) are at a four times greater risk for crashes than older adults and are involved in 15 percent of fatal crashes, but make up 6.7 percent of the total driving population.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident caused by a teen driver you owe it to yourself and your family to consult with an experienced Tennessee car crash lawyer like those you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. Take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.
Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.
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