by Tim O’Hare
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Distracted driving kills more than 15 people every day. Drunk driving kills five in every 100,000 Texans each year. In the last month alone, distracted driving and drunk driving have claimed several lives on North Texas roadways, including the lives of a father and his young son, and a young woman and her unborn child.
These accidents could have been avoided.
Distracted or inattentive driving, texting while driving, failure to abide by the rules of the road or drunk driving — all of these are factors that can lead to a serious or even deadly automobile accident. As we look forward to 2015, will you join me in resolving to make 2015 the safest year yet on Texas roads?
Here are a few ways you can do your part:
Put down your cell phone and drive. Not only will 15 people be killed today due to distracted driving; more than 1,200 will be injured in car accidents caused by a distracted driver. Texting while driving is no safer than drinking and driving. Research shows that drivers who text and drive are at least four times more likely to crash.
Don’t drink and drive. There is never a situation where drinking and driving can be justified. If you choose to drink, hand your car keys over to a trusted friend or family member who can ensure you will get home safely. Texas leads the nation in drunk driving deaths, and in Texas, 25 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2014 are blamed on alcohol. Even if you don’t drink but plan to be out on the roads late at night, you are putting yourself at a higher risk of being a victim of drunk driving.
Pay attention to pedestrians. Did you know that pedestrian accidents account for nearly 60,000 traffic deaths every year? Many of these accidents occur in designated crosswalks and school zones, and those most at risk include children and the elderly. Eliminating distractions while driving can help prevent pedestrian accidents.
The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare wish you and your family a very happy and safe new year. Remember that tonight can be one of the most dangerous nights of the year on Texas roads. To keep yourself and your family safe, plan to be at home (or wherever you plan to stay the night) before midnight, and do not drink and drive.
As a reminder, this weekend is a No-Refusal weekend. Beginning tonight at 6pm and running through 6 am Monday, January 5, Dallas Police officers will secure a search warrant for a blood sample from anyone who is arrested for DWI who refuses to voluntarily give a breath and/or blood sample.
If you have been seriously injured or lost a family member in a car accident, contact The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for a free consultation with a Dallas personal injury attorney.
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