According to the Lakeland Ledger, authorities stated that a Lakeland woman crashed her car Thursday, November 19, 2009, while tuning her radio.
Stacy Elizabeth Sumner, 42, of Lakeland, FL, was driving south on Cleveland Heights Boulevard in Lakeland, FL, when Polk County police stated she began tuning her radio and drifted into the right lane, close to the car next to her.
Sumner overcorrected the wheel, and her car crashed into the median and hit a 40-foot palm tree, knocking it over. The tree came to rest on top of her car, and Polk County city workers had to lift the tree off the car before the car could be removed from the median.
The investigation is ongoing, and police say Sumner's injuries were minor.
According to a recent article on distracted driving, there is a tendency to think that multi-tasking while driving is the cause of driver inattention or distraction. This belief leads to demands for new laws that restrict or ban the use of in-car communication devices such as phones and computers. But the correct argument is that multi-tasking can lead to driver distraction when drivers haven't properly trained themselves to use the new car gadgets. This is true for older devices like the familiar radio and CD as well as the new, like GPS, phones, and e-mail. So it's true that multi-tasking becomes the occasion for drivers to make more mistakes, when they fail to train themselves properly. This increased training is a joint responsibility of the individual driver and the government.
Multi-tasking behind the wheel is a matter of degree and all drivers are responsible for determining when they need additional self-training activities. When drivers overstep this line, they become socially and legally responsible. Drivers who allow themselves to be distracted by their multi-tasking activities are increasing the risk factor for themselves and imposing that dangerous limit on others--passengers, other drivers, pedestrians. This increased risk to which others are subjected is similar to other driving behavior that are considered aggressive and illegal: going through red lights, failing to yield, exceeding safe speed limits, reckless weaving, drinking and driving, driving sleepy or drowsy, road rage, etc.
Safe driving is up to you. Recognize the extra risk you face and do all you can to ensure your own safety and that of others. As a personal injury lawyer practicing in Polk County, FL, I have the innocent victims who suffer because of another distracted driver. If you have been injured in an automobile accident, do not hesitate to seek legal advice. Our initial consultation is free and there are no fees or costs unless you win. Call us today!
