Texting & Driving in Vermont? Find Out Why This Activity is so Dangerous

The dangers of distracted driving are debatable, but there is one thing that everyone can agree on – texting and driving is deadly.
April is the official National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. As the debate continues over the seriousness of distracted driving, there’s little disagreement about texting. Many states, including Vermont, have taken action to make texting and driving illegal.

It’s a primary law.

Last summer, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, signed a bill that prohibits texting and driving for all drivers. Vermont became the 27th state in the nation to enact such a law. The law took effect June 1, 2010 and made texting while driving a primary law, meaning a police officer can pull over a vehicle if the driver is seen texting. The law also does not permit the use of cell phones for drivers up to the age of 18.

If you are caught texting and driving, expect to pay a fine of $100 for your first violation. If you have another violation within two years, you will be faced with a $250 penalty.

Texting and driving is dangerous.

According to Distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving, “while all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction.” The three types of driving distraction that are referred to, include the following:

• Visual: your eyes are taken off the road.
• Manual: your hands are not on the steering wheel.
• Cognitive: your mind has wandered from the driving task at hand.

Distracted driving led to 5,500 deaths in one year alone.

Don’t become a distracted driving statistic. Make sure you put your cell phone away while you are behind the wheel and encourage your teenagers to do the same.

If you have been hurt in a Vermont distracted driving accident, you may be able to hold the negligent driver accountable for your injuries. For more information, contact an experienced Vermont car accident lawyer at the Law Office of Van Dorn & Curtiss by calling 877-611-9622. We represent accident victims in Western New Hampshire and Eastern Vermont.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our book, The Essential Guide to Your Vermont or New Hampshire Accident Case.