The Insurance Journal is reporting on a story about a student at Texas A&M University has been slapped with damages totaling $22 million for causing a deadly wreck while texting behind the wheel. Reed Vestal’s vehicle crossed the center line and hit Megan Small of Houston head on in the accident, which occurred in November 2007.
Investigators discovered that Vestal sent and received 15 texts in the 45 minutes before the wreck occurred and made seven voice calls. Vestal, who declared bankruptcy before the civil trial concluded, did not comment on the verdict.
One can’t imagine what he might have to say. Twenty-two actions with one cell phone in 45 minutes behind the wheel? Vestal was doing something other than driving every two minutes during that time.
According to a survey conducted by Nationwide Insurance, eight in ten drivers actually support some degree of restriction on the use of cell phones in moving vehicles. Surprisingly, however, the majority favor limiting any kind of cell phone use at all behind the wheel.
- 80% support a ban on texting only
- 80% support a ban on emailing
- 67% support restrictions on phone calls
Three in four of those surveyed say that any legislation enacted should apply to all drivers and not just to specific groups.
Researchers at the University of Utah say that distracted driving slows a driver’s reaction time down as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent. Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to have a crash, and 10% of drivers age 16-24 are on their phone at any one time.
The insurance implications of both the decision in the Vestal trial and the Nationwide study are clear. Younger drivers and the parents who are most likely paying their auto premiums are going to be looking at even higher rates. The insurance industry is already feeling the affects of rising insurance fraud during the recession and distracted driving is becoming a hot button issue. Brace your pocketbook parents, the hurt is coming.
