We all know the dangers of texting while driving. We all know that distracted driving causes more accidents than almost any other behavior on the road. We have heard the stories. We know the consequences, and yet somehow, people are texting while driving now more than ever before.
With the growing use of technology, distracted driving is all around us.
Texting behind the wheel is against the law
Texting while driving is illegal in the state of Massachusetts and it has been since 2010. However, more drivers are texting and driving every year, with thousands of citations issued on an annual basis.
Drivers who are caught texting and driving in Massachusetts face fines. The fine for the first offense is $100. The second is $250. The third is $500. Additionally, drivers under the age of 18 who are caught texting and driving will lose their licenses for six months.
However, even with the threat of these fines, too many drivers are still looking at their phones, or spend too long adjusting mirrors and changing radio stations. In fact, multiple counties in our state have seen citation rates nearly triple since 2013. Texting while driving isn't the only type of distracted driving, but it is the most prevalent.
WWLP's I-Team united with Chicopee police to find out just how many people on the road were driving while distracted. Officers pulled over a dozen people in less than an hour, and six were given citations for distracted driving. One Chicopee police officer involved in the operation, Mike Wilk, is very familiar with this issue. "It's a huge problem," he said, "it's a cause for many crashes, it's a cause for road rage. We see drivers on their phone at the red light, the light turns green [and] they don't move because they're on their phone."
Get the Salomone advantage
Massachusetts auto accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone have seen the disastrous consequences that come from texting while driving. We are ready to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one were injured as a result of another's reckless disregard for the law, contact us today. When you have our team on your side, you tell the distracted driver's insurance company that you mean business.