Noted European Filmmaker Werner Herzog Films Short Documentary Highlighting Dangers of Texting While Driving, Notes Parker Waichman LLP
New York, New York (PRWEB) August 09, 2013 -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the legal rights of those injured in car and other motor vehicle-related accidents, notes the release of a 35-minute documentary filmed by major European filmmaker Werner Herzog, who worked with wireless-telecom companies to highlight the dangers of texting while driving, according to the Wall Street Journal’s August 9 Speakeasy blog. Herzog shows how different people live in the aftermath of accidents that resulted from car accidents caused by the driver being distracted by sending or reading text messages on their cell phone, the WSJ blog added.
The short film premiered on August 8 at an event in Los Angeles; it can also be viewed online at http://www.ItCanWait.com, and plans include sending copies of the film to safety groups, government agencies and more than 40,000 high schools, the blog reported.
As for what inspired the legendary filmmaker to direct what's essentially a public-service announcement, German-born filmmaker Herzog told KMOV.com: "What [the wireless carrier] proposed immediately clicked and connected inside of me. There's a completely new culture out there. I'm not a participant of texting and driving — or texting at all — but I see there's something going on in civilization which is coming with great vehemence at us."
Distraction.gov, a website operated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), offers nationwide statistics on the dangers of distracted driving. Among the facts and statistics noted on the website:
• In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 3,267 in 2010. An additional 387,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, compared to 416,000 injured in 2010.
• 10% of injury crashes in 2011 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
• 11% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
• For drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes, 21 percent of the distracted drivers were distracted by the use of cell phones.
• At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.
Parker Waichman offers free legal evaluations to the victims of car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents in Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Florida and nationwide. If you or someone you love was injured in a motor vehicle-related crash, please visit our site at http://www.yourlongislandattorney.com. Free lawsuit evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).
Contact:
Parker Waichman LLP
Gary Falkowitz
Managing Attorney
(800) LAW-INFO
(800) 529-4636
http://www.yourlawyer.com
Gary Falkowitz, Parker Waichman LLP, http://www.yourlawyer.com, 1-800-529-4636, [email protected]
Share this article