Need to check your texts when you are driving? Pull out off the road.

May 31, 2016, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

When you get in the car the first thing you should be doing is disabling your text and email notifications so that you aren't tempted to check or send texts and emails when you driving. Looking down even momentarily to check/read/type takes your attention off of the road and causes crashes, fatalities, and injuries.

Thankfully more and more jurisdictions in North America are realizing the level of ‘addiction’ that many people have and are leaving bread crumbs to follow to safe texting areas. They have begun to twin the signs for rest areas and text stops to make us aware of the safer places to be checking our devices. Many of these places also have free WIFI which can make it even more desirable to stop if we are in America.

It appears that the problem of typing and driving has gotten worse rather than better even as more jurisdictions are making it illegal. We are seeing more signs like “it can wait’ on the light up information boards along the 400 series highways. What is even more disturbing is that people aren’t just checking emails and texts they are using Snapchat and Facebook while behind the wheel to record images.

Government, police and public health agencies are all looking for new solutions to this problem. In order to address distraction behind the wheel by electronic devices Harvard’s School of Public Health in the US is developing a designated driver campaign that is similar to drinking and driving campaigns. In New York State officers are being given a new device – the Textalyzer. This device could be used by police to check your device’s operating system for any recent activity. It can check whether you are using prohibited technology or holding the phone to your ear to talk. It would be used at designated stops and at crash scenes.

The Textalyzer has been developed in Israel and is being marketed to jurisdictions all over the world. While there are privacy concerns related to the technology, they can be resolved making the roads safer for everyone.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

The opinions expressed here, while intended to provide useful information, should not be interpreted as legal recommendations or advice.