Law Enforcement Says Indiana Distracted Driving Laws Difficult To Uphold

It’s no secret that drivers who are distracted by cellphones remain one of the greatest hazards on the road today. Just look at the growing number of accidents that are attributed to this behavior. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 9 people per day are killed as the result of distracted driving.

This leaves many citizens curious as to what is being done to address the risks of an Indiana car accident that a distracted driver can pose. Indiana distracted driving laws state motorists are prohibited from sending or receiving texts and emails while driving, but law enforcement believes the laws are too difficult to enforce.

In an article released by the Insurance Journal, police officers in Indiana are saying the laws fail to prohibit drivers from using electronic devices to make calls, type phone numbers, change music, or access phone applications. Furthermore, officers aren’t allowed to confiscate a phone to check for activity, even when distracted driving is suspected.

These difficulties have left officers and troopers struggling to enforce the measures, with a mere 400 tickets being issued for infractions over the past two years. This low number came in spite of the state attributing more than 1,000 car accidents to distractions behind the wheel.

This is why many citizens are chipping in to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, with one 9-year-old girl launching a campaign asking drivers to pledge not to text and drive.

At Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin, our Terre Haute Injury Lawyers understand the importance of spreading the message about the dangers of distracted driving. That’s why we hope the efforts that are currently being made will be enough to curb the epidemic of distracted drivers.