In today’s high-tech world, by the time you finish saying “what will they think of next?” someone’s already thought of it, brought it to market and more than likely sold it to Google for a couple billion dollars. Google Glass is a perfect example. This new experience from the search engine giant is basically a personal computer that you strap to your head. The computer’s monitor is visible in the glasses and once it’s turned on wearers can send and receive emails, access Google maps for directions and other travel information, play games, take pictures and video, perform Google searches and do just about anything else you can do on a computer. All this may or may not be wondrous depending upon just how “wired” you want to be. But we know one thing for sure: Google Glass will take distracted driving to a whole new level. As we’ve noted in this space a number of times, the relatively simple act of texting while driving is incredibly dangerous. In 2012 alone 3,328 people were killed and another 421,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents caused by someone who was looking at the screen of their smartphone, punching away at a keyboard, or doing something other than what they were supposed to be doing: watching the road. If the relatively basic forms of distracted driving that take place today are causing that many accidents, imagine the carnage that will occur when drivers can watch “Animal House” on Google Glass as they cruise down the highway. Fortunately, lawmakers in eight states have imagined the potential danger and introduced bills to restrict the use of Google Glass and similar devices by drivers. At first blush you would think that Google would follow the lead of AT&T and the other mobile service providers who are at the forefront of the battle against distracted driving. After all, the company goes to great lengths to portray itself as socially responsible. Unfortunately, when it comes to Google Glass, corporate responsibility is taking a back seat to corporate profits. Almost immediately after legislation banning use of the devices by drivers was proposed Google mounted an all-out lobbying effort to stop the measures in their tracks. According to a story from Reuter’s News Service Googles main point to legislators is that regulation would be premature because Google Glass is not yet widely available. In essence the company is saying let’s not take steps to prevent the vehicle accidents everyone knows are going to be caused by people watching “I Love Lucy” reruns as they hurtle down an interstate at 85 M.P.H.—let’s wait until after law enforcement and EMS workers have to start picking up body parts and stuffing crash victims into body bags before we act. Illinois state Senator Ira Silverstein, a Chicago Democrat who introduced a Google Glass restriction bill in December, responded that it was clear the merchandise was heading for the broader public. Who are they fooling? Silverstein said he recently met with Google lobbyists trying to kill the bill, a position he said is driven by market considerations for the company. Look, maybe Google’s “wait and see” attitude would have been justified five or six years ago before the dangers associated with distracted driving began to show up in accident statistics. They stance they’re taking now, however, is both unconscionable and totally irresponsible. We applaud legislators like Senator Silverstein for standing firm against Google’s attempts to derail his bill and we’ll be talking to our representatives in the Ohio General Assembly about introducing similar measures. In the meantime, we have a suggestion for the fine folks over at Google: strap on your Google Glass and watch 20 or 30 episodes of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s “Faces of Distracted Driving” video series. Maybe if you watch an hour or so of people talking about the loved ones they lost because someone was texting instead of watching the road you’ll use some of the billions of dollars in profits you make every year to lobby FOR legislation that will make our roads safer. If you or a member of your family has been involved in an accident caused by a distracted, impaired or careless driver contact the legal team at Anzellotti, Sperling, Pazol & Small to arrange a free consultation before you speak to an insurance adjuster or sign papers sent to you by an insurance company. We’ll use our experience to evaluate your case and then give you’re the best advice on how you can secure justice and the financial settlement you need and deserve.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:42:54 +0000
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