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Is a DUI or Driving with a Cell Phone More Dangerous?

June 8, 2017
By The Wiseman Law Firm

While many understand drunk driving can cause accidents, others don’t quite understand how similar driving while texting or talking on a cell phone can be. Anything that impairs a person’s cognitive abilities, whether alcohol or technology, could end in a car accident.

Most states impose a legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .08%, meaning any more alcohol present in your bloodstream can not only cause cognitive issues but can lead to a DUI arrest. However, even at 0.02%, drivers can experience a decrease in visual functions, such as the ability to track rapid movement. Likewise, drivers have a worsened ability to multitasking. Higher BAC levels result in further decline of skills, including an inability to recognize turn signals, a delay in braking response, and inability to hold the line position.

Distracted driving, including using a cell phone, can cause similar effects. This type of driving involves visual, manual, and cognitive distractions, which can cause you to take your eyes off the road, take your hands off the wheel, and take your mind off of driving. Texting and driving, the most common form of distracted driving, combines all three components at once, which can result in effects similar to drunk driving.

In 2015, drunk driving caused about 10,265 deaths and another 290,000 injuries, while distracted driving caused 3,477 deaths and another 391,000 injuries the same year. While they generate a high number of casualties, drunk driving still contributes to higher numbers of fatalities.

However, driving drunk results in much more severe penalties. If you are caught texting and driving, it is often a minor offense in a court of law compared to a drunk driving misdemeanor or felony. If you have been accused of a DUI, don’t hesitate to give our skilled Orlando criminal defense attorney a call. We have 20 years of trial-tested experience to offer your case. Our founder, Attorney Wiseman, is a former prosecutor, so he has a unique perspective to provide your defense. Don’t let your future be derailed by a DUI conviction.

Contact us at 407-420-4647 or fill out our online form to schedule a case consultation with us today.

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