Law

Archive for May, 2009

The Ottawa lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth are often concerned about the threat to motorcyclists on the road. Let’s face it, when it is car vs. motorcycle, motorcycle loses. A recent Canadian poll reveals interesting information about Canadians’ perception of the risk of driving a motorcycle. As a result, we read with interest when a recent public opinion poll conducted by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) revealed that Canadian motorcyclists are not behaving more or less risky on the roads than drivers of other types of vehicles.

The TIRF poll investigated the behavior of motorcycle riders, and also public perceptions of the problem. Interestingly, the poll shows that the public is not as concerned about unsafe motorcycle riders as they are other road safety issues. Motorcycles are also missing many key safety features of cars such as seatbelts and airbags. When involved in a crash, a motorcycle rider without a helmet is 40% more likely to suffer a fatal head injury and 15% more likely to suffer a non-fatal injury.

New Jersey lawmakers are pointing to proposed legislation moving through the U.S. Senate as proof that the public is fed up with accidents caused by people distracted by their cell phones while driving. New Jersey already has some of the strictest laws in the nation regarding cell phone use behind the wheel. A new piece of legislation is designed to address the increased use of text messaging services among drivers. The Senate bill was submitted by Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York and has drawn co-sponsorship by Democrats Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Mary Landriue of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina. Fourteen states currently have laws on the books prohibiting cell phone use while driving, and it is unclear how many others would act quickly to pass new laws or amend their current statutes to match the federal requirements.

Statistics bear out the dangers of cell phone use while driving. In 2008, more than 20% of traffic fatalities of teens between 16 and 19 years old occurred while the driver was texting or talking on a cell phone. More than 50% of teenagers admit to texting while driving and a large percentage say it is their number one distraction. New Jersey in these primary areas of practice: Personal Injury, Defective Products Liability, Professional Malpractice, Workers Compensation, Criminal Defense, Family Law & Divorce, Estate Planning, Corporate & Business Law, Domestic Violence, and DWI and Traffic Violations.