Photo: texting-while-driving massbusinessinsurance.com
Even though such news seems to be more important to drivers, it should also make riders in Ireland feel a bit safer. Drivers caught texting will receive an initial fine of no less than €1,000 ($1,380).
And in case this doesn’t seem enough, the fines will double if you get caught texting while driving for a second time. Finally, if a driver is caught texting while driving for a third time during 12 months, he or she could even spend three months in jail. Now, in case you believe that such regulations are too extreme, maybe we should let you know about the studies the Irish have carried out: they have revealed that between 20% and 30% of the total number of accidents are caused by distracted drivers.
No specific data on the specific types of distractions has surfaced, but it should be fairly easy to believe that SMS, Facebook, Twitter and other social media is not exactly helping anyone. Studies across Europe showed that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash a whopping 23 times, so this behavior is really dangerous. Couple this with the fact that most of the drivers using Facebook, Twitter and so on are young and with rather limited experience, and things start looking quite gloomy.
Similar penalties are envisaged for the UK, possibly to spread across multiple states in the EU, as part of a common effort to make roads safer and curb the number of crashes, injuries and deaths.
Now, with SMIDSY being the most favored “excuse” for drivers who crash into motorcyclists or cause them to crash, knowing that texting behind the wheel will be punished with such severity might make riders feel a bit safer. Still, it’s far better to be paranoid and ride preventively than being injured.
New motorcycle riders could also do well and check this instructive compendium of common errors riders often make, as it might save their hides one day.
No specific data on the specific types of distractions has surfaced, but it should be fairly easy to believe that SMS, Facebook, Twitter and other social media is not exactly helping anyone. Studies across Europe showed that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash a whopping 23 times, so this behavior is really dangerous. Couple this with the fact that most of the drivers using Facebook, Twitter and so on are young and with rather limited experience, and things start looking quite gloomy.
Similar penalties are envisaged for the UK, possibly to spread across multiple states in the EU, as part of a common effort to make roads safer and curb the number of crashes, injuries and deaths.
Now, with SMIDSY being the most favored “excuse” for drivers who crash into motorcyclists or cause them to crash, knowing that texting behind the wheel will be punished with such severity might make riders feel a bit safer. Still, it’s far better to be paranoid and ride preventively than being injured.
New motorcycle riders could also do well and check this instructive compendium of common errors riders often make, as it might save their hides one day.
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