Portland OR Texting While Driving Accident Lawyers at Zbinden & Curtis Comment On Study Analyzing Effective Ways To Deter Teens From Texting While Driving
Portland, OR (PRWEB) March 21, 2014 -- Public service announcements created to educate teenage drivers about the dangers of texting while driving work best when they evoke the fear of death in graphic terms, according to WSU News, which reported about a recent study. Portland OR personal injury lawyer Jon Zbinden of Zbinden & Curtis, Attorneys at Law understands the study could result in more effective educational advertisements and may reduce the number of accidents.
Attorney Zbinden comments came in response to the article, which was published by Washington State University on its website.
“Teenage drivers in the Pacific Northwest need to know that texting while driving can have deadly consequences,” Zbinden said. “Scientific studies have found that drivers who text put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk. That’s why so many states have laws banning texting while driving. Even so, many teenagers continue to text and drive. A graphic advertisement, as this study suggests, might make these young drivers think twice about texting behind the wheel. As attorneys who have handled many serious cases involving injuries and fatalities, we know all too well at Zbinden & Curtis just how dangerous texting and driving can be in Oregon and Washington.”
Washington State University marketing professors Ioannis Kareklas and Darrel Muehling analyzed different public service announcements designed to discourage teenagers from texting while driving, according to WSU News. The three-part study began by surveying 357 drivers between the ages of 18 and 49 years old about their attitudes towards texting while driving. Most agreed texting while driving is dangerous but 25 percent of them admitted they would do so that month, WSU News reported.
In the second part of the study, WSU researchers asked WSU undergraduate students to identify which symbol of death they found reminded the students most of their own mortality. Of the five symbols selected by one group of WSU students, another group overwhelming said a skull-and-crossbones reminded them of death, WSU News reported.
In the third part of the study, participants online nationwide viewed four different public service announcements about the dangers of texting while driving. A PSA featuring the skull-and-crossbones proved to be the most effective method for deterring teenagers from texting while driving, WSU News reported.
Convincing people not to text while driving has long been a very difficult task, according to Portland texting while driving accident attorney George Curtis of Zbinden & Curtis, Attorneys at Law.
“Many young drivers believe they’re invincible behind the wheel,” Curtis said. “That’s why more needs to be done to educate some young drivers about the dangers of texting while driving in Portland and other cities in the Pacific Northwest. We can’t sit back and wait to do something. We need to take action before it’s too late. People’s lives are literally on the line.”
Including Oregon and Washington, 42 states and the District of Columbia have laws banning texting while driving for all drivers, according to Governors Highway Safety Association website, which was last updated in March 2014.
For more information about the rights of people injured in distracted driving accidents and the legal options available to families in Oregon and Washington, call (503) 287-5000 or complete the online contact form.
About Zbinden & Curtis
Zbinden & Curtis represents injury victims throughout Oregon and Washington. Attorneys Jon Zbinden and George Curtis have practiced law since 1982. Since their partnership began in 1987, Zbinden and Curtis have assisted thousands of injury victims and their families in personal injury cases, ranging from minor injuries to catastrophic injury or death. The firm’s practice areas include motor vehicle accidents, products liability, slip and fall accidents, dangerous drugs and more. The law firm offers a free consultation to all potential clients. Zbinden & Curtis works on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay if the firm is successful in handling the case.
Zbinden & Curtis
817 NE Broadway St.
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 287-5000
http://www.zbinden-curtis.com/
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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