New York Teens and Distracted Driving

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

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New York is soon to have the nation’s toughest distracted driving penalties.  Effective November 1^st, the penalty for distracted driving under the age of 21 will be a 120-day license suspension for the first offense and one year for the second. 

New York also has aggressive distracted driving enforcement, including unmarked vehicles in a variety of colors that allow officers a better visual of drivers who are texting or engaging in distracting behaviors.  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 15- to 20-year olds in the U.S.  With 78% of teens now owning cell phones, texting is a distracted driving concern.  However, young drivers can also be distracted by eating, grooming, adjusting the radio, or even day dreaming.

Read more about how to stay safe on the roads in this publication from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr. are experienced in all aspects of law.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm.  Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

What is Distracted Driving?

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting.  Did you know that at 55 mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field?  Distracted driving occurs any time that you take your eyes off the road.  While there is no federal regulation, New York strictly enforces a ban on all handheld devices, including texting while driving.

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Distracted Driving includes:

• Texting
• Using a Cell Phone or Smartphone
• Eating
• Drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading (including maps)
• Using a GPS
• Watching a Video
• Adjusting a Radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Distracted driving can lead to a ticket, fines, points on your license, and a surcharge.   If you find that you are faced with a distracted driving ticket, contact the Law Offices of Louis D. Stober Jr.  Our experience, combined with our successful track record makes us Long Island’s premier law firm. Contact our office for a consultation by calling 877-791-8076.  You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest news stories and legal tips.

LSU Studies Distracted Driving

Law Offices of Louis D. Stober, Jr., L.L.C.

350 Old Country Road, Suite 205, Garden City, NY 11530

877-791-8076 / StoberLaw.com 

The engineering school of LSU has been researching the dangers of cellphone use while driving for the past year and a half. Volunteers simulate driving through a series of screens and projectors created by the engineer students. Participants are even strapped into a small car with no wheels. (The Island Packet)

The study does not only show the impact of cellphone use while driving, but also the affects of driving while medicated or driving under different road conditions. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, John LeBlanc, tells The Island Packet, technology is on the rise; therefore, the amount of distracted driving is increasing. LeBlanc also states, over 660,000 drivers are using their cellphones while driving at any given time. 

One LSU simulation study included the task of the driver having to follow a certain car but would receive phone calls while following that car. Sometimes drivers were asked to read and answer texts while driving the simulation. Students would study the driving patterns of the participant and judge their driving skills based on speed, brake and gas control, and drifting out of the lane.  (The Island Packet)

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Sherif Ishak tells The Island Packet, phone conversations did not significantly affect drivers; however, participants who texted while driving showed a vast decrease in driving properly, especially staying in the correct lane. 

According to Ishak and the students at LSU, the distraction of using a cellphone while driving takes about 3.35 seconds, which is equivalent to driving 200 feet at 40 mph. LSU hopes to be one of the main sources in decoding safe versus distracted driving. (The Island Packet)

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