Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer Says New Report Emphasizes Dangers of Distracted Driving

As enforcement of Kentucky’s new anti-texting law has proven difficult, Lexington auto accident attorney Frank M. Jenkins III suggests implementing recommendations from a comprehensive new report on the dangerous practice of distracted driving.

Lexington, KY (PRWEB) July 12, 2011

Given that Kentucky’s new anti-texting law has been difficult to enforce, Lexington car accident attorney Frank M. Jenkins III is calling for the state legislature to implement the recommendations of a far-reaching report on the matter.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association has released a new report detailing its findings on the risks of distracted driving. The comprehensive study examined many forms of distracted driving.

Sponsored by a grant from State Farm Insurance, the report offers the best evidence yet of the dangers of distracted driving, according to Jenkins, founder of Frank Jenkins Law Office, a Lexington personal injury law firm that represents auto accident victims throughout Fayette County and the state of Kentucky.

“This is a tremendously important report,” said Jenkins, pointing to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s estimate that 16 percent of fatal crashes and 20 percent of crashes with injury have involved at least one distracted driver.

“The report makes clear that there are more distractions out there than just texting, and they need to be taken very seriously,” the Kentucky lawyer said. “The GHSA reviewed mountains of evidence to reach its conclusions.”

According to the GHSA report, “Distraction is an inevitable consequence of being human ... driver distraction cannot be eliminated. The challenge is to identify and eliminate those distractions that increase crash risk substantially.”

The report states that almost two-thirds of drivers have admitted to using a cell phone while driving. One-third confessed to using them routinely.

The report surveyed several studies that have looked at the effect of cell phone usage on crash rates. The authors noted that the studies’ results, which showed up to a fourfold increase in wrecks, should be looked at cautiously but they agreed that cell phone use does increase crash risk.

Jenkins said he strongly supports implementing the suggestions of the report.

“We know that the police have been having trouble enforcing Kentucky’s anti-texting law â€" both here in Fayette County and around the state,” he said. “However, our law firm believes that any decrease in reckless driving is a good decrease.

“I urge our authorities to continue enforcing our law and to consider updating it to include a provision requiring drivers to use a hands-free device if they’re going to use their phones while they drive. We also heartily endorse the report’s suggestions that authorities do more to educate people on the dangers of distracted driving.”

The Lexington attorney also notes that, while the goal of his firm is to decrease harm caused by distracted driving, he will work to protect the rights of anyone who is the victim of injuries caused by another driver’s negligence.

About the Frank Jenkins Law Office

The Lexington, Kentucky, personal injury attorneys of the Frank Jenkins Law Office handle injury and accident cases, including motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death claims, workplace accidents, construction accidents and Social Security disability claims. For more information, contact the Frank Jenkins Law Office today at (800) CAR-WRECK, locally at (859) 389-9344 or through the firm’s online contact form.

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Frank M. Jenkins III
Frank Jenkins Law Office
(859) 389-9344
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