Father Lobbies Arizona Legislature to Pass Texting While Driving Ban

Posted on March 8, 2011 by David Boyles

A California father whose son was killed by a driver who didn't see him because she was texting is lobbying the Arizona Legislature to pass a texting while driving ban. Robert Okerblom's 19-year-old son Eric was hit and killed by a teen driver who was texting in 2009. Okerblom now runs the Eric Okerblom foundation, which advocates for tougher distracted driving laws around the country.

Eric Okerblom was a freshman at the University of California Berkeley who planned to join the cycling team in his sophomore year. He was cycling in daylight on a straight country road when he was struck and killed by the teen driver. Okerblom and his attorney subpoened the phone records and discovered that driver had been texting at the time of the accident.

Okerblom's foundation has organized a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness of distracted driving and lobby for laws against it. The ride began last month in California and is now passing through Arizona. The ride is specifically going through states that have little or no regulation of distracted driving, such as Arizona.

State Senator Al Melvin and Representative Steve Farley both have bills in their respective chambers to ban texting while driving. Farley first introduced his bill in 2007, but it has not garnered enough support. Since 2007, 30 states and the District of Columbia have passed distracted driving laws.
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New ATV Safety Legislation Passes in Boston

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Soraya Dadras

New legislation has been put into effect in Boston, MA that will put serious regulations on ATV riding, much to the relief of families who have been victims of having their children injured on or by one. The legislation has received some criticism from avid ATV riders. 

 

The new legislation is called Sean’s Bill in honor of an 8-year-old who was killed in 2006 in an ATV accident. The legislation aims to prevent young kids from riding machines that are too powerful for them. It has changed the legal riding age to 14 years old opposed to 10 years old, with the exception in sanctioned races. The legislation also set a limit to the engine size for 14 to 16 year olds to 90 cubic centimeters. Riders who are between 14 to 16 year olds also have to be supervised by someone over the age of 18. The law also requires that all riders under the age of 18 must take vehicle safety and responsibility courses. One statistic by the Consumer product safety commission states 74 children under the age of 16 were killed on ATV’s in 2008.

ATV’s are so popular among today’s youth that it is no wonder why there is legislation trying to ensure that is trying to keep them protected. Unfortunately not all states have this type of legislation in effect, so your child can still be in danger. A manufacturing defect or another reckless driver is just two potential causes of an ATV accident. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury by an ATV contacting an Arizona personal injury can help you prosecute the responsible parties involved. 

 
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