Texting and Driving Case Ends In Conviction

By Ben Glass, Esquire

Benjamin W. Glass and Associates

. https://www.benglasslaw.com/

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Texting and Driving Case Ends In Conviction

This month, a Massachusetts teenager was the first person to be charged and convicted of motor vehicle homicide by texting. Aaron Deveau, 18, swerved across a center lane while texting and driving on February 20, 2011. His vehicle crashed into a truck driven by Donald Bowley, 55, who was a father of three.

Deveau said that he had sent his last text before pulling out of the parking lot of the grocery store where he worked and was simply distracted with thoughts of homework. The prosecution, however, presented evidence that Deveau sent a text a 2 34pm and received one at 2 35pm. The crash occurred at 2 36pm.

Drivers throughout the nation there are 38 states with texting while driving laws should take notice of this case. Texting while driving is a risky behavior, and the consequences of distracted driving are more than needing to slam on your brakes when you see a red light. These cases can end in the loss of life. It's a situation worth taking very seriously.

In this instance, a driver's actions took the life of a father.

The statistics have been widely published about how driving and texting is nearly, just as, and sometimes more dangerous than drinking and driving. When you read or type a text, you end up losing precious seconds of response time in order to prevent or defend from an accident. It's very simple taking your eyes off the road is dangerous. You can't prevent what you don't even know is coming.

Before you or your kids hit the road, you need to accept the responsibility that you have to respect other vehicles and their drivers on the road. Pulling out your cell phone to answer a text while driving should never be done. After all, are the consequences really worth telling your friend that you will, “Be there in 10 mins?”