46°Distracted teen driver charged in Norwalk fender-bender
09:00 AM
Nov 05
2011
Nov 05
2011
A teen driver distracted by a GPS unit caused a fender-bender in Norwalk.
Jetta K. Blaine, 18, of Wooster, was charged with failing to maintain assured clear distance following an accident on Benedict Avenue (U.S. 250).
Blaine and Lawrence E. Hillyer, 59, of 28 E. Elm St., were traveling north in separate vehicles at 4:19 p.m. Thursday when Hillyer stopped in traffic in front of 125 Benedict Ave., Norwalk police said. Blaine failed to notice Hillyer was stopped and rear-ended his vehicle at a slow speed, police said.
According to a police report, Blaine was momentarily distracted by her GPS unit just before the accident. Neither driver reported injuries, police said.
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08:58 AM
arnmcrmn says
I know people who were watching the birds outside while driving and bump into someone and cause minor damage. Might as well BAN those birds too.09:26 PM
ladydye_5 says
Well everytime you need to change the address on the GPS you need to TOUCH IT AND LOOK AT IT. I see it all the time. Along with cellphones, 6 disc CD changer, the sirrius radio, etc etc. I mean there are MANY MANY distractions in the car. I am surprised the girl admitted to the distraction and didn't try to blame it on someone/thing else. I give her alot of credit for "owning" her mistake. Better than most twice her age. (and she must have "looked away from her driving and not been looking ahead" as she HIT the car IN FRONT of her)11:29 AM
Most Wanted says
GPS units are much safer than phones and much safer than trying to read directions from a piece of paper. They attach to your window. They speak the direction to you so you do not have to look away from your driving and when you do look you are still looking ahead. This in unfortunate, but not the same as a phone or texting.10:13 AM
ladydye_5 says
Think they need to BAN those along with texting. Not sure what is worse, texting or trying to change the location and pushing buttons on your GPS unit. PAY ATTENTION.