New York City motor vehicle accident attorneys represent clients who have been victimized by distracted drivers who cause car accidents to occur. Despite laws aimed at preventing distracted driving collisions, and despite many warnings about the dangers associated with driver distraction, motorists continue to put themselves and others in jeopardy by driving while using phones and other electronic devices.
Now, one county in New York is trying a new approach to help stop distracted driving collisions. The county is tuning to technology with the goal of reducing the number of distracted drivers on the road.
Can Technology Help Reduce Distracted Driving Accidents?
The county in New York that is trying to implement the new anti-distraction program is Nassau County. The program is called the Distracted Driver Education Program and it targets motorists who have been ticketed for violating New York’s laws limiting the use of handheld mobile devices while driving.
Motorists who are ticketed by police for distracted driving will have the opportunity to install a special device in their cars that monitor whether or not their smart phones are utilized while the vehicle is in motion. If the person who enrolls in the monitoring program does not fail the program by using his or her smartphone during the 90 days when the device is installed, then the black mark on the motorist’s driving record associated with distracted driving will be removed from his record.
Because many motorists who receive distracted driving tickets are repeat offenders, the hope is these drivers may be prompted to change their behaviors as a result of this program. even when tickets haven’t led to them altering their driving practices.
Motorists who decide to participate in the program will have to pay for the costs of the device that monitors their smartphone use. This cost is charged in addition to the fines that are associated with a distracted driving ticket in the state of New York. Many drivers will find the costs are worth it, though, since violating New York’s distracted driving laws could potentially result in a motorist getting five points on his license. If a motorist gets 11 or more points on his license to drive over the course of an 18-month period, these points would lead to a suspension of the motorist’s driver’s license.
Hopefully, the technology will help drivers to change their behavior permanently and stop engaging in distracted driving. Unfortunately, only a relatively small number of all distracted drivers in the state will participate in this particular county’s program after being ticketed for distracted driving. Motorists throughout the rest of the state are likely to continue their dangerous driving behaviors, and will thus continue to create a substantial collision risk.
Drivers who operate their vehicles while distracted should be held accountable by victims of any accidents these motorists cause due to a failure to pay attention. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff attorneys can provide help to collision victims in taking appropriate legal action when an accident occurs. Give us a call today to find out more about the ways in which our legal team can help you.
