New Technology Could Help Solve Texting While Driving Problem, Tennessee Attorney Says

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New Technology Could Help Solve Texting While Driving Problem, Tennessee Attorney Says

Brack Terry

Morristown, Tennessee (PRWEB) August 4, 2010 –

New software that blocks drivers from texting, e-mailing or Web surfing when behind the wheel could play a big role in reducing distracted driving accidents, says Tennessee personal injury attorney Brack Terry.

The anti-texting applications, including CellSafety, iZup, tXtBlocker and ZoomSafer, generally use a phone’s GPS to determine when a car is moving and disable a cell phone or texting device when the car is going faster than 5 or 10 mph. The programs also have opt-out features.

“These emerging technologies, along with new laws across the country that prohibit texting while driving, are clearly going to make our roads safer from distracted drivers,” says Terry, a partner of the Morristown, Tennessee personal injury law firm of Terry, Terry & Stapleton.

“However, I think it’s too early to say that these software programs are being widely used, and the anti-texting laws have been shown to be difficult to enforce,” Terry says. “Unfortunately, texting while driving remains a very serious traffic safety issue.”

Motorists who text while driving are 23 times more likely than other drivers to be in an accident, according to a study by the Virginia Tech Driving Institute. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that more than 20 percent of all crashes in the U.S. in 2008 involved distracted drivers, resulting in nearly 6,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries.

“I think the public has come to realize how big of a problem texting while driving has become, and so you are starting to see a movement to ban this dangerous practice,” Terry says.

Currently, 30 states punish texting while driving as a primary driving offense. Tennessee’s ban took effect in July 2009, making it illegal to use a cell phone or hand-held digital device to type, read or send messages while driving. However, the law does not prohibit talking on a cell phone or punching in phone numbers while driving.

In October, the federal government issued an order that bans federal employees from texting while operating government-owned vehicles.

It’s clear that many of the new anti-texting software programs are being geared towards these government agencies and private companies, Terry says.

“What’s fueling the demand for this new technology is employers’ concern that they are being exposed to liability by employees who are texting while driving,” Terry says. “Distracted drivers or their employers should be held fully accountable for any injuries caused by their negligence.”

About Terry, Terry & Stapleton

Terry, Terry & Stapleton is a Morristown, Tennessee personal injury and criminal defense firm that has served East Tennessee residents for more than 46 years, including those from the communities of Rogersville, Newport, Morristown, Knoxville, Kingsport, Johnson City, Jefferson City and Greeneville. The firm represents clients in commercial vehicle accident claims, car accident claims, workplace injuries, Social Security disability claims, medical malpractice lawsuits and product liability cases in addition to other practice areas. For more information, contact the firm by calling 1-800-518-3779 or by using its online form.

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