Distracted driving is widely acknowledged to be a leading cause of serious car crashes. Mississippi like many states has passed legislation to reduce the risk of distracted driving car accidents caused by cell phones. Mississippi prohibits text messaging while driving among new drivers with a learner’s permit, intermediate or temporary license. Many other states have far more extensive bans on cell phone use while driving including bans on texting for all drivers or hands free calling only limitations.
While it was generally presumed that such legislative efforts would reduce cell phone related car accidents. These assumptions are now being called into question based on the results of a surprising new study indicating that current hands free cell phone laws have not been effective in preventing auto accidents caused by mobile phones. According to the results of the study, bans on cell phone use and texting while driving also have not resulted in a reduced risk of car accidents.
The study revealed that cell phone bans have not had a significant impact on auto accident rates despite declines in cell phone use while driving. While the study authors are not suggesting changing the laws designed to limit mobile phones while driving, they are suggesting that states without cell phone bans avoid enacting new laws until further research can be conducted regarding the relationship between mobile phone use while driving and car crash rates.
The results of the recent study confirm prior research suggesting that cell phone bans do not prevent distracted driving accidents. A prior study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute looked at cell phone related car accidents prior to and following cell phone bans in California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia and New York. The study also revealed that there was not a significant change in the fluctuation of auto accident rates before or after the ban in the states that enacted the bans or neighboring states without bans.
The researchers in both studies are puzzled by the results of the studies. There is wide agreement that cell phone bans result in a sharp decline in cell phone use while driving. It is also widely agreed that there is a strong correlation between cell phone use while driving and car accidents. Some have speculated that the bans have not resulted in fewer auto accidents because drivers simply switch to hands free calling. However, studies have indicated that there does not appear to be in any difference in accident rates in states with hands free cell phone use laws.
While the results of this study are somewhat confounding, distracted drivers cause many Mississippi car accidents. The recent study also revealed that drivers are distracted as much as 50 percent of the time. If you have been injured by a distracted driver in Mississippi, the experienced Mississippi car accident attorneys at Barrett Law Office offer a free no obligation initial consultation so call us today at (662) 834-2376.
