U.S. government attempts to curb in-car devices

Posted on March 19, 2012

In an attempt to address the increasing number of cars equipped with online connectivity devices allowing drivers to check social networking sites and view web pages in their cars, the U.S. Department of Transportation has released a set of suggested guidelines for auto manufacturers. The guidelines proposed request that car makers voluntarily limit the dictation caused by these devices by disabling their use while the vehicle is in motion. These restrictions, which are not legally enforced, would apply to activities such as internet browsing, text messaging, and inputting data into GPS navigation systems. They ask that automakers voluntarily simplify the usage of electronic devices to ensure they only require one hand to operate and no more than 2-second intervals in which the driver is glancing away from the road ahead.

More than 3,000 people were killed in 2010 in auto accidents linked to distracted drivers. This figure accounts for more than nine percent of all fatal accidents that year, according to figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Approximately 15 percent of U.S. families own an automobile equipped with multimedia connectivity features, and that number is only expected to increase as car companies continue to add new features to their automobiles.

As a Los Angeles car accident lawyer, I know that distracted drivers pose a real threat to motorists. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, please consider contacting a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer.

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