According to Aaron Swanson at the Connecticut Department of Transportation, driving whilst using a cell phone is one of the key factors which result in vehicle crashes.
Connecticut law states that it is illegal to use a hand held cell phone whilst driving and is also illegal to text even when the vehicle is stationary.
However, accident data from 2012, shows that distracted driving was a contributing factor for drivers in fatal accidents in 3.6 percent of crashes.
So recently the police have been cracking down on drivers and one in 77 drivers in Connecticut in 2013 was given a ticket for a cell phone violation. In total 32,000 tickets were issued which delivered more than $2 million in fines to the state with the fines ranging from $150 to $500.
Swanson, said that while the DOT never interferes with police officer discretion whether to issue or ticket or simply give a warning, research has shown that tickets or fines do change the behavior of drivers.
He said that everyone agrees the use of cell phones while driving is dangerous and they are doing all they can to change behavior, by using strict enforcement measures.
If you have suffered serious injuries as a result of an auto accident involving a distracted driver, please call our Connecticut I-95 accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP, at (888) 244-5480 or contact us online today.
