Will Cell Phones be Banned in Tennessee?

Cell phones have been known to cause distractions for drivers and some experts believe that the use of hand-held devices, such as cell phones, is a contributing factor in many car accidents. Six states across the United States have already enacted jurisdiction-wide bans on driving while talking on a hand-held cellular phone. Currently, Tennessee is not among the states that prohibit using cell phones while driving, but could the state follow the new trend?

A resolution to ban hand-held cell phones while driving in Sullivan County has not been well received. Commissioner Jim King has requested the Sullivan County Commission to “call upon the Tennessee State Legislature to pass legislation in the next session of the Legislature to make it unlawful for the driver of a motor vehicle to use a cell telephone while the vehicle is in motion and that the use of a cell telephone under above conditions shall be considered a presumption of negligence if an accident occurs.” Two of the county commission’s three primary committees said that they will not endorse the resolution.

The National Safety Council (NSC) is lobbying for a nationwide ban on drivers using cell phones and other messaging devices while operating their vehicles. The NSC has plans to lobby all 50 states plus Washington D.C. to create laws that ban both hand-held and hands-free cell phone use as well as texting while driving.

"The problem is of an enormous order of magnitude, and it's only getting worse," said council president and chief executive officer Janet Froetscher. "We are at the point where the science is really clear that driving while you are on your cell phone is highly risky."

Studies have been conducted that show the increased risk of a serious accident when the driver is talking on a cell phone. One study from the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis showed that using a cell phone while driving accounts for approximately 6 percent of accidents each year in the United States. That percentage translates into 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration performed a study examining driver distractions. Based on the drivers studied, almost 80 percent of all accidents and 65 percent of all near crashes occurred within three seconds of some form of driver distraction. That means if a driver takes his or her eyes off the road for a mere three seconds to reach for a cell phone, the chance of causing a serious accident is significant.

If you have been injured in a Tennessee car accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Tennessee car accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates at (800) 337-HURT (4878) or (615) 356-2000 for expert legal advice.

Phillip Miller & Associates
631 Woodland Street
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (615) 356-2000
Fax: (615) 242-1739
Toll Free: (800) 337-HURT
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