Connecticut sees more than 100,000 car wrecks every year. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of these crashes were completely preventable, and many were the direct result of distracted driving. The most important things you can do as a driver, to ensure the safety of yourself and those with whom you share the road, is to always keep your hands at 10 and 2 and your eyes on the road.

Experienced attorney Jim Miron has seen the devastating impact distracted driving can have on car crash victims and their families. For more than 25 years, he has worked to hold distracted drivers accountable for their negligence by seeking justice and compensation on behalf of his clients.

Types of Driving Distractions

There are three primary types of driving distractions:

• Manual: This includes any activity that takes your hands off the wheel, like texting, smoking, eating or drinking, applying makeup, grooming, and fidgeting with controls.
• Visual: This includes any activity that takes your eyes off the road, such as reading, looking for a dropped item, rubbernecking, and looking at onboard electronics (GPS or anything with a screen).
• Cognitive: This includes any activity that takes your mind off the task of driving, such as daydreaming, road rage, planning a speech or grocery list, and other distractions that take your mind off the road.

Although all distractions are extremely dangerous, most of them are completely legal. Most of the distracted driving laws in Connecticut focus on cell phone use. While prohibiting the use of handheld devices is beneficial, it fails to address a wide range of potential hazards.

Distracted Driving Laws in Connecticut

Connecticut's distracted driving laws currently prohibit:

• Any driver from reading, sending, or receiving text messages while behind the wheel.
• Any driver from using dvd players or playing video games while behind the wheel.
• Any driver of a school bus from using any type of cell phone, including hands-free, while operating a bus with passengers on board.
• Any driver under the age of 18 from using any type of cell phone or other mobile electronic device, including hands-free.
• Any driver over the age of 18 from using handheld devices. Hand-held is okay.

The only exceptions to Connecticut's distracted driving laws involve emergencies. Regardless of the driver's age, cell phones may be used by hand to call 911 in an emergency.

Discuss Your Car Wreck for Free With Our Connecticut Car Accident Attorney

Please contact Jim Miron, Attorney at Law using the form on this page or call 203-339-5991 today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. With his main office centrally located in Bridgeport Connecticut, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Jim proudly represents the seriously injured throughout the State of Connecticut.