Chicago-Area Drivers Ticketed for Texting

Monday, October 14, 2013

Chicago-Area Drivers Ticketed for Texting

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

It seems police in the Chicagoland area are fed up with texting and distracted driving. In a relatively new campaign, officers have been ticketing distracted drivers and drivers caught texting on various expressways near the city. In short shifts of about an hour, at least 100 tickets have been handed out each time the police set out on this mission.

Texting and Driving: Illegal

In Illniois, there are strict laws regarding cell phone use when a person is driving. Cell phones, including hand-held and hands-free models, are banned completely for bus drivers and novice drivers, as well as for all drivers who are in school or construction zones. Further, texting is banned for all drivers. As we all know, however, it is difficult to enforce these laws, as it involves actually having to see a driver using their phone illegally. Anyone who drives on the various expressways leading into and out of the city every morning knows, though, that there are a lot of people texting and driving. These new measures to prevent distracted driving as well as texting while driving may have an impact on whether people keep doing so, as each ticket comes with a hefty fee of $120.

Accidents Caused By Texting

According to Distraction.gov, government research showed that 20% of drivers under the age of 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as being distracted at the time of the crash.  Distractions can include just about anything, such as talking to passengers, putting on makeup, adjusting the radio, or making a phone call. But texting requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, which means not just taking their eyes off of the road but also blocking out what’s going on around them in order to focus on the text message. Engaging in these types of behavior make the risk of getting into a crash three times more likely. It stands to reason that police are cracking down on this dangerous behavior.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident caused by someone texting or driving while distracted, contact a car accident lawyer today for advice and help.