The Oklahoma Auto Accident Lawyers at Atkins & Markoff Alert the Public to NTSB Recommendation to Ban All Use of Cell Phones in Vehicles, Including Hands-Free Devices

Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) December 15, 2011

The Oklahoma car accident lawyers at Atkins & Markoff hereby alert the public that members of the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB yesterday recommended at a meeting that legislatures enact a ban on the use of all cell phones in moving vehicles, including those who are using hands-free devices in order to bring down the number of auto accidents that occur because of inattentive drivers. The recommendation was published in an article that appeared in the Wall Street Journal.

Specifically, NTSB Chairperson Deborah A.P. Hersman stated that, ?It is time for all of us to stand up for safety by turning off electronic devices when driving.? She also cited statistics kept by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that revealed that an estimated 3,000 fatalities in car accidents that occurred last year could be traced to distracted drivers who were using cell phones to make phone calls and to send or receive text messages.

While the NTSB does not have legislative authority and the laws that are already in place in 35 states and the District of Columbia that limit the use of cell phones while driving are state laws, the board recommended federal action be considered in order to make the roads in the United States safer for all people.

Oklahoma car accidents occur at a high rate, and according to state statistics more than 70,000 auto accidents occur somewhere inside the state lines every year. These crashes lead to approximately 36,000 injuries and to more than 700 fatalities on an annual basis. Oklahoma is not currently one of the states that has enacted a specific cell phone law. Instead, the legislature in 2010 enacted House Bill 2276, which states in part that, ?The operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving.?

About Atkins & Markoff

Atkins & Markoff, whose Web site is located at http://www.oklalawyer.com, is a law firm comprised of Oklahoma personal injury and trial lawyers who have been representing consumers and defending their legal rights for nearly 15 years. The firm handles legal matters that include Oklahoma auto accidents, class action lawsuits, child injuries, defective products, medical malpractice, general personal injury and workers? compensation among other legal matters.

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