Blog: Distracted Driving

Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappe cause of Distracted Driving

Apr 24, 2017

If you haven’t heard of the latest Starbucks drink, the Unicorn Frappe, you might be living under a rock. All kidding aside, this pink and blue swirled, sweet and sour drink has been the talk of the nation on social media. Everyone is rushing out to get one and apparently, much to the dismay of the Starbucks baristas. One barista, Braden Burson, filmed a video of himself ranting about the difficulty of making the drink…while...

Why are distracted driving victims suing Apple?

Jan 27, 2017

When Americans take driving education courses, they learn that individual decision-making while behind the wheel can dramatically impact one’s own life and the lives of those near one’s vehicle. While drivers are encouraged to make safe decisions, many voluntarily embrace more dangerous approaches due to ignorance, apathy or necessity. Distracted driving behaviors are particularly reckless because it is now generally understood that voluntarily distracting oneself while driving may result in deadly consequences. Apple provides services...

HB853: Daniel’s Law hits PA House floor on Tuesday, May 24, 2016

May 19, 2016

Daniel’s Law, written by PA House Representative Jaret Gibbons, is up for a vote on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. If passed, House Bill 853 will amend Title 75 (Vehicles) and Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses), and enforce enhanced penalties for those convicted of causing injury for death due to distracted driving. Currently, the law only applies to texting while driving and serves no all-cell-phone-use ban, which complicates enforcement, according to Pennsylvania police. The family of...

Local family fighting for stricter laws against texting while driving

Apr 27, 2015

On May 7, 2013, disaster struck the Gallatin family from New Castle, Pennsylvania. On this day, Daniel Gallatin was tragically killed while riding his motorcycle by a woman that was texting while driving her SUV. The driver that killed Mr. Gallatin was sentenced to 23 months in jail and was released after 60 days. In Pennsylvania it is legal to talk on your cell phone while driving and texting while driving citations are rarely given...

Ohioans want distracted driving rules better enforced

Mar 4, 2014

It's been one year since Ohio passed laws against distracted driving and texting-while-driving. Unfortunately, however, authorities are not impressed with the results of their new laws. The Ohio Department of Transportation says that in the last twelve months only sixty people have been ticketed by Ohio State Patrolpersons in northeast Ohio for texting-while-driving. Police cite the fact that the rules are just simply too hard to enforce. Police say that since texting-while-driving is only a...

Distracted Driving not being enforced enough, researchers say

Dec 17, 2013

As we've reported in the past, a recent Virginia Tech study found that texting-while-driving can increase a person's chance of an accident by at least twenty-three times. Researchers say that composing a text message of just a few lines is nearly the same as closing your eyes and travelling 55 mph for five seconds. Triple-A analysis from western Pennsylvania shows that the Pittsburgh metropolitan area ranks second behind Greater Philadelphia for texting-while-driving citations. According to...

Drowsy driver on I-80 causes accident

Sep 5, 2013

An accident involving two trucks and a sleeping driver took place today on Interstate 80 east bound. The crash is said to have happened because one of drivers fell asleep and plowed into the back of the other trailer, sending both trucks through the guardrail and down a slight embankment. The accident took place around 8am just past the exit for State Route 5 in Braceville, Ohio. Three people were taken away by ambulance with...

Texting-while-driving killer waives preliminary hearing

Sep 4, 2013

The Volant, PA woman who killed a man while he was riding his motorcycle in May has just waived her right to a preliminary hearing. Scheduled to take place 4 September 2013, she and her lawyer have decided to wait until the case proceeds to the court of common pleas. Initially charged with vehicular homicide, she now also faces involuntary manslaughter, texting while driving, careless driving, aggravated assault with a vehicle, and an accident involving...

School students at high risk of injury at bus-stops

Jan 19, 2012

As if the list of reasons to be truant or skip on any given school day morning is not long enough, records indicate that bus-stop and school bus related crashes and injuries amount to an average of 20 deaths each year. Despite pouring tens of thousands of funded dollars into programs aimed at the safe transport of students, transportation experts say there is no perfect bus stop. The reasons go way beyond school bus stop...

PennDOT announces Distracted Driving PSA contest

Jan 17, 2012

This week in Harrisburg, PennDOT has announced that it is sponsoring a statewide contest for high school students. The aim is to encourage sincere awareness and actively discourage drivers who text, talk, and even search the internet on their phones. Students are asked to submit a thirty (30) second radio Public Service Announcement that promotes safe driving. The winning PSA will be professionally produced and publicly aired by radio stations in the student's regional media...