Kevin Meerschaert
Jacksonville officials are encouraging motorists to protect themselves and others by avoiding distracted driving incidents.
A crushed vehicle, representing the results of distracted driving, stood in front of Jacksonville City Hall on Friday, as residents signed a pledge declaring they will not read or send text messages while behind the wheel.
Wayne Hogan, a local attorney, is on a mission. He has spent years talking to groups across the country about the danger of distracted driving.
Statistics show distracted motorists are four times more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident, Hogan said, adding it is about the same rate as those who drive intoxicated.
“This is an epidemic in this country,” Hogan said. “In the worst year of the polio epidemic in this nation it killed about 3,000 people. Distracted driving kills that same number of people every year.”
Texting while driving is against the law in Florida, and Hogan said many prosecutors are now charging motorists with vehicular manslaughter for causing fatal accidents if found to be texting while behind the wheel.
Hogan also warns talking on the phone, handheld or not, is also a danger to be avoided.
“When you’re on the call regardless of whether you are holding it in your hand or you are using hands-free technology,” he said, “you then have your brain miles away in that conversation with someone else.”
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Florida.
Mayor Alvin Brown declared Friday to be “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All Day” in Jacksonville, after issuing an executive order requiring city employees to not use cell phones while behind the wheel.
