Personal Injury Law

Chicago Alderman Calls For Ban On Texting While Driving

By Hurley, McKenna & Murtz

On Wednesday, Chicago politician Edward M. Burke proposed a crackdown on drivers who text message or surf the internet while driving?presumably to cut down on car accidents in the City of Chicago. CBS 2 Chicago reports that the ban would fine motorists who take their hands off the wheel to text $75, or $200 if an accident resulted.

"It's time for us to revisit the issue," Burke said. "It's as much a part of educating the public as anything else. Maybe people [who] are driving and texting don't realize the kind of hazard that's created." Studies by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggest that distracted driving triggers nearly 80 percent of the nation's car crashes. If the latest crackdown flies, Burke said he may attack other forms of distracted driving such as ticketing pedestrians, an increasing number of whom are landing in emergency rooms for injuries suffered sending texts while crossing the street.

Full post as published by Illinois Car and Truck Accident Lawyer Blog on September 11, 2008 (boomark / email).