To save lives and reduce injuries, local law firm Warren & Griffin is encouraging all drivers to resist distracted driving. The urgency follows the enactment of the Georgia “Hands Free Law” and is in response to the estimated 3,000 deaths each year nationally that are a result of distracted driving.
“We are in the middle of the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers,” said C. Mark Warren, attorney at Warren & Griffin. “This is our response to the avoidable deaths and injuries plaguing our community. Through an incentive, we are drawing attention to this serious issue while providing a reward for drivers who pledge to not text and drive.”
Every Tuesday through Sept. 18, Warren & Griffin is inviting drivers to come by their Dalton or Chattanooga office to take the “NVR TXT & DRV” pledge. In return, drivers will receive a complimentary hands free headset to use to make calls safely while driving.
“We can increase our safety on the road and show our teens how to make good decisions by adjusting our own habits when we get behind the wheel,” said Mr. Warren. “We are urging all drivers to commit to not text and drive or do other things while driving that take our attention away from the road. With Georgia’s adoption of the ‘Hands Free Law,’ it reinforces that we all need to take this issue seriously.”
The “Hands Free Law” took effect July 1 and states that a driver cannot hold a phone or support it with part of their body. Drivers can only use phones by speakerphone, earpiece, wireless headphone or by connection to the car or a watch. Other states that have passed a hands-free law saw a 16 percent decrease in traffic-related deaths within two years according to the Georgia Highway Safety Office.
After seeing an increase in distracted driving related crashes, Warren & Griffin launched the “NVR TXT & DRV” campaign 10 years ago, even before Georgia passed a law on it. Today, they’re hoping even more people will commit to safe driving since texting and driving is the determined cause of a quarter of all car crashes.
The Chattanooga office is at 736 Georgia Ave., 6th floor, and the Dalton office address is 300 West Emery, Ste. 108. For more information visit http://www.warrenandgriffin.com/.