“Techie World” may be the best description for the modern world. There seems to be something new every day.  We all have gadgets.  I bet that we all received one this Holiday season.  Cell phones are not just for making phone calls.  There are games, apps and GPS.  This makes it harder to avoid using a cell phone behind the wheel of a car.

We all know the dangers associated with texting while driving as well as other distracted driving behaviors. Different awareness programs and media campaigns have been organized to inform the nation’s drivers of the hazards associated with using the phone behind the wheel.  I am not sure anyone is paying attention to these! It has been estimated by the National Safety Council that talking on the phone causes 1.2 million crashes a year and texting another 100,000.  If we all know the danger, why do we still have this high number of crashes every year?  Many states have already enacted anti-texting while driving law hoping to make the roads safer for drivers.  The issue maybe how to regulate the laws because they are difficult to enforce.

Nearly 6 in 10 motorists admit to driving and talking on a cell phone, and 37 percent acknowledged to texting while behind the wheel of a car, according in a recent Harris Interactive Healthy Day poll.   This is alarming!  Drivers know the dangers of texting while driving but, still think they’re capable of doing it.  It can never happen to me!  This is the wrong attitude.  The use of phones behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is a major threat to traffic safety!  Not only for those committing the act, but also for drivers sharing the road.  Let’s wake up and save lives.  Dnt txt n drv!

According to a recent report the United States could save 2,000 lives a year if all 50 states established comprehensive programs of phased-in privileges for young drivers. A report from the Allstate Foundation and the National Safety Council stated that an estimated 20 lives can be saved in Kentucky from the implementation of a more comprehension graduated driver licensing law.

Auto accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. Every State has a form of GDL, which rewards novice drivers with additional driving privileges as they gain experience and maturity. John Ulczycki of the National Safety Council and other experts say that the most effective GDL programs contain seven components.

The seven components are:

1. Minimum age 16 for a learner’s permit;
2. Six months before unsupervised driving;
3. Minimum 30 hours supervised driving during learner’s stage;
4. Intermediate licensing at 16 ½ minimum;
5. Intermediate nighttime driving restriction beginning no later than 10 p.m.;
6. No more than one non-family passenger for intermediate license holders;
7. Minimum age 17 for a full license

New York and Delaware are the only states that have programs with all seven components. In Kentucky, the GDL program includes:

a) A six month learning permit at age 16 that requires adult supervision;

b) A restriction on driving after midnight during the permit level;

c) A six point limit on traffic violations to age 18, with a penalty of license suspension; and

d) A four hour driving education class. Under the current National Highway Traffic Safety

Kentucky’s program no longer meets the minimum requirements for a full GDL program with seven components recommended by the National Safety Council.

This is an issue that Kentucky Lawmakers should consider. As a Kentucky Personal Injury Attorney and a father of a teenage daughter, I am concerned about the number of car crashes involving teen drivers. I agree that more lives and more money will be saved if GDL programs in Kentucky will be strengthened.  This is enhancements to the current law should defiantly be considered by Kentucky Law makers.

I have a 16-year-old daughter who got her Kentucky Learner’s Permit in September of last year.  We have an ongoing debate as to whether or not she should attend and complete a driver education class (which incidentally I won).  I believe that she should attend and complete a driver’s education class, if only for the insurance discount that will help to keep my car insurance premiums at a lower rate. 

As everybody is aware, teenage drivers’ insurance policy premiums are very, very high.  My daughter claims that she is a good driver (which she is) and she doesn’t need to waste her time going to “this stupid class”.  Now here is a strange twist. Believe it or not, my 21-year-old became an unexpected ally and is on my side.  She says that a driver’s education class is a must.

New drivers and all drivers under the age of 21 are more likely to be involved in an accident than their older counterparts.  So do driver education classes really work?  Is this something that all new drivers should take?  Or is it just a money making racket?

As a parent I believe that safe and good driving habits come with time and practice.  I believe the same thing as a personal injury and accident attorney. The more time you spend behind the wheel the better driver you become, especially if you have the proper training and guidance to begin with.  This is how automobile accidents are prevented. As with any activity, if you practice bad habits you only develop bad habits. If the parent is guiding the new driver in the proper direction time behind the wheel will help prevent serious automobile accidents in Kentucky.  As with any activity you are learning multiple teachers can be good thing. This adds to the perspectives the student is exposed to.

This is where driver education classes come in to play.  Somebody that can actually teach you the correct rules of the road and the law is invaluable.  A second opinion is invaluable.  Oftentimes a parent is not listened to. An outside authority figure is more likely to get through to a teenager.  The bottom line is driver education classes are not the only avenue of teaching kids how to drive but it should be a part of it. 

Parental responsibility is still the main avenue of learning.  Teaching children responsibility in their driving habits should be a priority.  The National Safety Council has implemented a program called “Alive at 25”. Their motto is “Saving Lives Through Education”.  This is the key to safe accident free drivers, education and time behind the wheel. 

This is why the Kentucky Graduated License Program works.  It doesn’t give a new driver a total control and driving privileges immediately. This program requires the parent to sign the permit applications for anyone under the age of 18, putting responsibility with the parent. A permit driver must drive with another driver over 21 for a minimum of 60 hours of practice driving, 10 hours of which must occur at night. 

After the driver gets their license they are placed in an intermediate driving phase.  Drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless good cause is demonstrated.    Additionally there are passenger restrictions.  All of these rules gradually place the new driver in situations they can handle before more difficult situations may be encountered. They remain under the guidance of more experienced drivers for this time period.  

In my opinion any and all education prevents auto accidents and is a good thing, whether teenagers believe it or not. As for now my 16 year old is driving a car around one time a week that has a big yellow sign on top that says “Caution New Driver”

As anyone knows a distracted driver is a dangerous driver. I would go as far to say that a distracted driver becomes very dangerous. Believe it or not, most of us are not very good at multi-tasking, especially when we are behind the wheel of a car. Driving is difficult enough, but when you drive and eat, put on make up, talk on the phone or text message you are putting yourself and everyone around you at risk. My old boss used to call cars missiles of destruction in his closing arguments. There is a lot of truth in that statement.

A study released by the National Safety Council last week tested 41 drivers ability to maneuver their cars while engaged in distracting activities, like doing mental math problems and answering questions. I would argue that this is far less distracting than eating a sandwich or putting on makeup, but guess what? They had problems keeping their car in the correct lane and they had a slower response time. Easier activities had almost the same affect as harder activities. The point being eating a sandwich may be as dangerous as text messaging. I find this hard to believe, but agree that any distraction can lower the reaction time and limit one’s ability to avoid an accident.

The point is concentrate on driving or you are going to hurt someone. A distraction is one of the items police look for in evaluating fault in a car wreck. Keep Kentucky roadways safe and accident free. Concentrate on driving and nothing else!