Police To Start Tracking Mobile Phone Related Crashes
from the get-some-evidence dept
There have been a lot of arguments over the past few years concerning just how big a distraction "driving while talking" really is. Now, we may finally get some more useful statistics than the anecdotal evidence everyone loves. Police in all 50 states are getting new codes to designate accidents where a mobile phone was a contributing factor. Of course, I imagine this will lead to a series of debates as well. How do they determine whether or not it was really the mobile phone that contributed to the accident, for instance?
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determining whether phone was a factor
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Re: determining whether phone was a factor
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Re: determining whether phone was a factor
Not necessarily, the other person involved in the collision may have witnessed the driver talking on a cell phone before the accident, as well as other witnesses to the crash. That is if witnesses remain at the scene (which always seems to be a problem.) I've been present during the investigation of a crash and have heard officers ask witnesses if either or both of the drivers were talking on the phone, driving eratically, etc.
If a witness or the other driver sees the driver talking on a cell phone, and there is a cell phone in the car, it might be easier to get a warrant for the phone records than otherwise.
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