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Distracted Driving Car Wrecks in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Distracted Driving Law Firm
As cellphones continue to improve, texting and driving accidents are becoming more common. Distracted driving is now the leading cause of automobile accidents in Colorado and the rest of the United States. According to the National Safety Council, more than 1.6 million automobile accidents occur each year because of distracted driving.
As a result of an accident caused by a distracted driver, you or someone you care about may be entitled to compensation. The best use of your resources is to focus on your rehabilitation.
That’s why we’re here, after all. Our Colorado Springs distracted driving lawyers at Warrior Car Accident Lawyers can represent you in negotiations with insurance carriers and assist you in getting the most money possible.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, contact Warrior Car Accident Lawyers in Colorado Springs immediately.
Texting while Driving is Illegal in Colorado.
As many as 40 accidents are caused by distracted driving in Colorado every single day, according to the state. Texting, chatting on the phone, browsing the web, or even holding Zoom meetings are all possibilities for these distracted drivers. Even though texting while driving is illegal in Colorado, drivers continue to do it against the law.
Under the new regulation, people under the age of 18 are also prohibited from using their mobile phones while driving. An offense will result in a $300 fine and a class 2 misdemeanor charge. As a consequence, you’ll also get four points on your driver’s license. Insurance rates are nearly always going to rise as a consequence of this.
Even though texting and using a phone screen while driving is illegal in Colorado, drivers continue to do so.
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Using a Cell Phone While Driving in Colorado Springs: The Dangers
According to University of Colorado professor James Stowers, studies suggest that chatting on a mobile phone while driving increases your chance of an accident by four times.
In contrast, someone four times above the legal limit of 0.08 is four times more likely to get into a car accident. He says chatting on a mobile phone is “about the same as driving under the influence.” Texting increases the danger of being hacked by up to eight times.
According to NHTSA data, more than half a million individuals were injured in car accidents in 2008 because drivers were chatting, texting, or emailing while behind the wheel. More than 6,000 people perished as a result. Distracted driving has surpassed drunk driving as the main cause of fatal vehicle accidents. The state of Colorado has acknowledged these disturbing figures. By implementing this new ban, the state intends to raise motorist awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.
DISTRACTED DRIVING IN COLORADO MAY BE BROKEN DOWN INTO MANY CATEGORIES.
Texting while driving is the most common kind of distracted driving, and it’s for a good reason. Up to 14% of all traffic fatalities are caused by drivers who are texting while driving. Many more forms of distracted driving exist, such as:
- Using a cell phone
- Email check
- Keeping tabs on or engaging with social media accounts
- Applying cosmetics
- Grooming
- Consuming food or liquids
- Cigarettes and vaping are two examples of smoking.
- the act of tuning in to a new station
- Adding GPS coordinates to the map
- Trying to figure out where you’re going by looking at a map
OUR DISTRACTED DRIVING LAWYERS ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.
We could assist you if you were hurt in a vehicle accident because of a distracted driver. Our team of attorneys is committed to providing you with the personal attention you deserve.
We conducted a thorough investigation to find out who was responsible for your accident. This includes hiring specialists, subpoenaing phone records, and interviewing witnesses who may assist us show culpability.
To assist you in collecting as much compensation as possible after an accident, we will assess your losses in full detail. We are prepared to take insurance firms to court if they refuse to play by the rules. You don’t have to be concerned about the course of your case since we are skilled negotiators and litigators. We’ll be there every step of the way.
Call the Colorado Springs Distracted Driving Car Accident Attorneys at Warrior Car Accident Lawyers now if someone in your immediate vicinity had an accident because another vehicle was texting or chatting on their mobile phone while driving.
We at Warrior Car Accident Lawyers strive to get our clients the most money possible. For a free consultation, call 719-300-1100 or use the online form to reach Warrior Car Accident Lawyers attorney Jeremy D. Earle.
DISTRACTED DRIVING AND CAR ACCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED DUE TO THE WIDESPREAD USE OF SMARTPHONES.
We now have instant access to any information, regardless of where it came from. In a matter of seconds, you can talk with a buddy thousands of miles away from you. Mobile technology has its own set of drawbacks, though.
Our lives have become so intertwined with technology that we can’t go more than a few minutes without using it. It’s the most common cause of automobile accidents in Colorado Springs, and it’s now the most common kind of distraction.
DISTRACTED DRIVING OCCURS WHEN A DRIVER IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ROAD.
It has become more commonplace in recent years for distracted driving to be recognized as a factor in car accidents. Distracted driving occurs when a motorist loses concentration while operating a motor vehicle, such as texting, talking on the phone, or eating while behind the wheel.
If you’re texting or chatting on the phone while driving, you’re committing a kind of distracted driving, which may entail both holding the phone in your hand and utilizing hands-free devices.
Distracted driving may also involve using or operating a GPS device, eating or drinking while driving, or even leaning down to pick up anything that has fallen to the floor of the car accident. Distracted driving.
Distracted driving is any activity that takes a driver’s eyes off the road and diverts their attention from the job at hand. Driving while distracted is dangerous and, in some cases, illegal. When it comes to texting while driving, many people ignore that this activity has been outlawed in Colorado since 2010.
DISTRACTED DRIVING: THE FACTS AND STATISTICS
Driver distractions cause as many as 80% of all accidents, a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study showed. According to the Colorado Tollway, mobile phone use while driving is a factor in up to 24 percent of all traffic accidents in the United States each year, translating to over 1.2 million collisions.
Using a smartphone while driving was a contributing factor in over 1,100 accidents in Colorado alone in 2011. One cellphone-related distracted driving disaster occurs every 24 seconds, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).
The worst offenders are individuals who are under the age of twenty. While texting while driving raises the risk of an accident by 23 times within the time it takes to send a message, using a handheld device doubles the risk of an accident.
PREVENTING DRIVER DISTRACTION
Taking a few basic steps before embarking on a journey may go a long way toward preventing distracted driving. Cell phones should be turned off or put away so they won’t be a distraction for drivers, and drivers should avoid talking on the phone while driving.
Using a speak-to-text program, which turns spoken words into text messages, is not an acceptable substitute for not texting while driving. Drivers are furthermore distracted by programs that don’t perform properly or make blunders.
Inputting GPS coordinates before commencing a journey is a good idea for drivers who don’t want to eat or drink while driving. During a journey, drivers may need to make revisions to the GPS destination, so they should stop in a safe location.
DISTRACTED DRIVING POSES A SERIOUS RISK.
As previously stated, distracted driving is responsible for more than 20% of all automobile accidents. As many as 3,000 individuals were murdered on U.S. roadways in 2013 due to inattentive driving.
Distracted driving is on the rise as more and more technologies enter our daily lives and automobiles. Despite Colorado’s rigorous anti-distracted driving legislation, many accidents still occur due to distracted driving. To prevent an accident, you must be aware of the most common causes of distraction.
COLORADO SPRINGS AUTO ACCIDENTS AND SMART PHONE USE
Because so many individuals in the United States use mobile phones, the wireless business is flourishing despite the country’s economic downturn. According to recent statistics, more than 90% of the population has a mobile phone.
Sadly, this has increased mobile phone-related car accidents over the past several years. Unsurprisingly, data show that it is the most common cause of car accidents involving young motorists. However, mobile phone use while driving is not restricted to minors, and many individuals have been seriously wounded or died due to cell phone-related incidents.
The number of drivers using their mobile phones while behind the wheel is rising, and you don’t have to spend a long time on the road to observe it. To limit the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving caused by mobile phones, legislation is being studied and approved. Accidents caused by individuals using their mobile phones at the wrong times have been on the rise.
It’s difficult to estimate how many automobile accidents may be directly attributed to distracted driving due to cell phone usage. Studies examining the chance that driving while distracted by a mobile phone would result in an accident are not encouraging.
According to research, handheld gadget users are as dangerous as drunk drivers in car accidents. Texting drivers take their eyes off the road long enough to cover the distance of a football field while driving.
According to recent research, cell phone use while driving is a growing problem. Only 2% of drivers know that texting and talking on their phones while driving might lead them to stray from their lane, and the vast majority think that mobile phone usage has no impact on their performance behind the wheel.
Colorado has responded by instituting mobile phone prohibitions for many of its drivers. Using a mobile phone while driving a school bus is prohibited by law. The use of handheld mobile phones by drivers is strictly prohibited in construction zones and near emergency response facilities. Using a mobile phone while driving is not permitted for anybody under 19. Texting while driving is also prohibited for all drivers.
In Colorado Springs, where many people are always on the go, it is not uncommon to see someone driving while texting. Because of the dangers of texting while driving, you may be entitled to compensation in the event of an accident with a motorist who is using a mobile phone.
DISTRACTIONS THAT DRIVERS ARE FREQUENTLY FACED WITH
Your entire concentration is required when driving. It just takes a split second for a terrible accident to happen if you don’t keep your eyes on the road. Although driving may become a normal action with time, we may be able to do other things while driving without worrying about losing control. Even the most experienced drivers can be at fault for an accident if they lose focus on the road for even a little moment.
- Using electronic gadgets, such as cellphones or tablets, while driving is a common cause of distraction. Texting, answering phone calls, and reading emails while driving is a distractions.
- Consumption of food and drink.
- Grooming or applying make-up.
- Using a GPS and paying close attention to it.
- Changing the music or changing the dashboard settings.
- Interacting with the public.
- Observing a traffic accident or a building site from the outside.
Colorado is the first state in the Midwest to enact laws prohibiting handheld cell phones while driving. The first infraction carries a fine of $75, while successive offenses carry penalties of $100, $125, and $150.
In Colorado, using a handheld cell phone while driving is now illegal.
Colorado became the 12th state, and the District of Columbia banned the use of portable mobile phones while driving on January 1, 2014.
Motorists may no longer use portable devices to communicate unless in an emergency. Driving using a headset, loudspeaker, or voice-activated dialing is still legal in the United States. Using a cell phone while texting is already a crime in Colorado.
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THIS BAN?
Regardless of scientific research findings, it is widely accepted that using a portable telephone while driving may be dangerous and distracting to the driver. In one research, drivers’ response times are slowed to the same extent as those of intoxicated or elderly drivers, while in another, chatting on a mobile phone had no effect.
Distracted driving, on the other hand, is linked to tens of thousands of collisions and fatalities every year. Approximately 387,000 persons were injured in distraction-related collisions in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A prepared statement from Governor Pat Quinn reads: “Too many Colorado families have suffered because of incidents that should have been averted. ” It is imperative that all drivers maintain high caution and alertness when behind the wheel. These new regulations will save lives.
WHAT’S THE PUNISHMENT?
First-time offenders face penalties of $75, while repeat offenders face fines of $150. Those who commit the same infractions regularly may also get a moving violation. Three moving infractions within a year may result in your driver’s license suspension. A person who causes a fatal accident while using a portable device might be sentenced to up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000 under the new legislation.
IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT YOU MAY DO.
- Texting while driving and other related activities, such as using the internet, are strictly prohibited.
- Using a portable electronic gadget while driving is forbidden.
- Using a mobile phone while driving in construction and road repair zones and school speed zones are strictly banned.
- If you’re under 18, you’re not allowed to use a hands-free phone while driving.
- Within 500 feet of an emergency, it is illegal to take pictures or movies using a mobile device.
- Using a cell phone while driving has been linked to the loss of life.
Communication, social networking, texting, and email are just a few of the many uses for cell phones. According to a recent Pew Research Foundation research, 24 percent of American teens use social media on their mobile phones.
Cell phones may be a lifesaver if used correctly and appropriately. However, using a mobile phone while driving is very risky. Distracted driving and swerving out of one’s lane are more common among motorists using their phones.
IS AS DANGEROUS AS DRUNK DRIVING
Many studies have demonstrated that driving while distracted by a mobile phone is as risky as driving while intoxicated. To ensure everyone’s safety on the roads, drivers must realize that their actions impact everyone else’s.
Drivers must avoid any activity that might divert their attention away from the primary job: texting while driving, using social media networks or streaming material, or viewing movies. When teaching young drivers about the hazards of texting and driving, parents need to be role models.
Everyone must advise relatives and friends to avoid using mobile phones while driving and exercise reasonable precautions to prevent accidents.
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN FROM TEXTING AND DRIVING?
According to a new report, texting and driving have overtaken DUI as the leading cause of juvenile mortality in Colorado and the United States.
The alarmingly high number of incidents involving youths texting while driving should drive us to consider effective methods of preventing this dangerous behavior. Parents and adolescent drivers may go a long way in preventing this behavior from forming if they communicate well.
Parents must make it plain from the beginning that texting while driving is never acceptable and assist their children in understanding the repercussions of doing so. In addition, parents must set a positive example by avoiding all types of distractions while driving.
EDUCATE YOUR ADOLESCENT ABOUT THE DANGERS OF TEXTING AND DRIVING AND THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE LAW.
You need to explain to them the dangers of texting while driving.
Texting while driving is a dangerous practice that many teenagers are aware of, but many aren’t sure exactly how it causes accidents. They may believe a few seconds of screen time won’t hurt them. This is not at all the case.
Driving while distracted may lead to major accidents, even when it takes only a few seconds. Talk about how distracted you are while you’re texting and driving. It’s a distraction that pulls your attention away from the road, your hands off the wheel, and your eyes off the prize. Even for a few seconds, it’s a formula for catastrophe to do this.
According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, a football field’s length is the amount of time it takes for a motorist to send or receive a text message. As a result, you can see how much of a danger you incur by texting while driving.
TEXTING ISN’T THE ONLY FORM OF DISTRACTED DRIVING.
Drivers of all ages, not just teenagers, are four times more likely to be involved in an accident while using a mobile phone, according to the National Safety Council. When it comes to texting while driving, this number more than doubles.
Human Factors and Economic Safety Research estimates that in the United States alone, mobile phone usage while driving is responsible for 2,600 fatalities and 330,000 injuries per year. In certain research, talking on a mobile phone has been compared to driving while intoxicated.
University of Utah researchers found that a driver’s response time is delayed as much as having a BAC of.08 percent, the legal limit in Colorado, while they’re using a mobile phone while behind the wheel (handheld or hands-free).
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING: HOW TO AVOID ACCIDENTS
For a substantial amount of time, you take your eyes off the road when texting. If you drive 55 mph for five seconds, you’ll cover the distance of a football field. If you drive 35 mph in Colorado Springs, you’ll cover almost the length of a standard city block. It takes around 10 vehicle lengths to traverse only 150 feet at 20 mph. Kids and cats may be rushing into the street, or people may be trying to get out of blocked driveways in your area.
The federal government has issued new rules aimed at limiting the use of cell phones while driving.
PREVENTING FATALITIES DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING
Distracted driving was the cause of 3,500 deaths on American roadways last year. To a great extent, the general public agrees that more must be done to address this issue.
To comply with the NHTSA’s new rules, smartphone manufacturers must develop a “driver mode” that restricts the usage of certain functionalities when the user is driving. Maps may still be used while driving users.
The Consumer Technology Commission, which includes companies like Samsung and Apple, has said that these standards are too harsh and would limit the adoption of technology that may assist drivers in making better judgments.
AMOUNT OF SERIOUSNESS OF ISSUE
There were 35,092 roadway fatalities in the United States in 2013, an increase of 7.2% over the previous year. The number of people on the road has increased, but other factors, such as alcoholic driving, speeding, and distractions, are also to blame. Over the last year, there has been an 8.8% rise in traffic-related fatalities caused by distracted driving. Based on present patterns, these figures will continue to rise in the next year.
PUTTING A STOP TO THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE
Regardless of whether or not government authorities are taking action, it is up to all drivers to ensure that they are not distracted while behind the wheel. Among the simple actions drivers may take are:
- Before getting behind the wheel, send SMS, complete discussions, and establish the GPS location.
- When you hear a beep, put your phone on mute or store it somewhere you won’t accidentally use it.
- If you need to take an important call, cautiously pull over or leave the roadway. Finish your task before merging into traffic.
- If you have a passenger, you may ask them to answer calls, handle the GPS, or respond to messages on your behalf.
- Be aware of the dangers of texting while driving as a driver.
Not texting while driving is the greatest way to prevent a collision. Never in a million years. Put your phone away if you can’t resist the urge. Put it in a bag, in your car’s trunk, or the backseat of your vehicle. When you’re driving, turn it off. It’s best to put the car in park and text if you really must be in touch. Give it to your traveling companion if you have one.
A PASSENGER’S GUIDE TO PREVENTING TEXTING AND DRIVING COLLISIONS
Passengers may also prevent texting and driving accidents. There are times when etiquette dictates that you show respect and regard to others, but there is one case when you may need to be abrasive. First, if the driver begins to text, offer to assist them. Remind them that texting while driving is banned in Colorado if you can’t help. Request that they do a U-turn. As an option, you may also drive.
DISTRACTED DRIVING-RELATED DEATHS GO MOSTLY UNREPORTED.
Distracted driving is said to be the cause of 80% of car accidents in the United States, and chatting or texting on a mobile phone is one of the drivers’ most distracting activities.
Distracted driving is responsible for as many as half of all deaths on the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fears that if police officers are not properly trained to investigate and report the possibility of distracted driving being a factor in fatality crashes, it will be much more difficult to pass legislation prohibiting drivers from using their cell phones on the road.
IS THERE A POINT IN FILING A COMPLAIN
Changes in public conduct can only be brought about by raising awareness of the gravity of the situation. Public awareness campaigns, for example, might be used to persuade individuals to modify their behavior for their benefit. Traffic regulations can also be changed, like in the case of seat belt use.
In the absence of compelling evidence, it is difficult to persuade state and federal politicians to pass such legislation, and it is much more difficult to get financing for public education campaigns on the dangers of distracted driving.
It would be much simpler to persuade lawmakers and the general public that distracted driving is a significant problem that requires attention and action if the number of deaths was honestly reported.
ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT STATE OF REPORTING, SHORT
The methods used to determine whether or not distracted driving had a role in an accident vary from state to state.
In contrast to Tennessee, which has a population six times larger and more metropolitan regions where traffic accidents are widespread, and mobile phone use is ubiquitous, California only recorded a handful of driving-related deaths.
Distracted driving is often only recorded as a cause if the driver, a passenger, or a witness notifies the police that a mobile phone was being used at the time of the accident in states where police are not trained to look into the likelihood of cell phone usage.
Since the driver and passenger are typically unable to say anything, and bystanders are seldom near enough to spot the motorist using his or her mobile phone at the scene of a fatal accident, these reports are rarely made.
THE INTRICACY OF THE LAW
Current rules make it very difficult for police to prove their suspicions that mobile phone usage played a role in an accident (for example, if an officer finds a cell phone on the driver’s seat).
Most instances require police to get a subpoena to inspect the driver’s mobile phone data, which is a tremendous effort to go through, particularly since learning that cell phone usage was a role seldom changes anything for the victims of the accident.
Additionally, the police must show that the motorist was using their mobile phone at the exact moment of impact. This may be difficult to achieve since the exact time of the incident is not always known, and if the driver was just glancing at their phone while driving, there is no record of that use.
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
If you’re behind the wheel, don’t put yourself or others in danger by talking on your phone. You’re more likely to get into an accident if you’re distracted by your cell phone than you think.
Pull over to the side of the road if you need to use your phone immediately; if you’re just curious, keep driving until you reach your destination.
If you’re ever in an accident and you have any reason to believe the other motorist was texting, call the police right away. Have difficulties persuaded the police officer that the other motorist was at fault due to inattentive driving? Call us: we can assist.
DOG OWNERS ARE PARTICULARLY PRONE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING.
An AAA poll found that 29% of dog owners said their pet was a distraction when traveling with their pet. More than half of dog owners who traveled with their pets participated in some kind of diversion.
A whopping 84% of pet owners say they take their pet with them when they go for a drive – to the dog park or on vacation. When pet owners travel with their dogs in the automobile, they may be putting themselves and others in danger.
TRAVELING WITH A PET AND DISTRACTED DRIVING
When their dogs go in the automobile with their owners, their owners typically engage in various diversions. One-fifth of dog owners confess to taking their dogs along for the voyage in the car.
Pet owners who travel with their pets in the car are also more likely than those who don’t talk to pet their dogs while driving. Yet another third, or 13%, do so while driving and feeding their dogs. While driving, four percent of dog owners admitted to playing with their pets.
It is dangerous for a pet owner to participate in any of the abovementioned habits while driving. It is exceedingly risky to take your eyes off the road for even two seconds, dramatically raising the chance of a car accident.
THE DANGERS OF DRIVING A PET
According to the poll, approximately 60% of dog owners say they take their pet for a trip at least once a month. Most of these motorists talk to or play with their animal companions while behind the wheel. Driving with a dog in the front seat is common for many drivers.
Some dog owners try to reach their pets in the backseat, while others lean down and touch their pets with their hands or arms to prevent their dogs from straying into the front seat, which may be dangerous.
DRIVING SAFELY WITH A PET
Pets are at risk if their owners get into a vehicle accident while driving with their pets inside. Only 16% of dog owners use a dog restraint device while traveling. A dog can become a missile if it is not properly confined. When you collide with a large animal, you risk suffering serious and even fatal injuries.
Keeping the dog from becoming a distraction is critical if you want to keep others safe. Using an appropriate pet restraint device is critical to ensuring the dog’s safety in case of a collision.
Restraint solutions for pets, such as pet seat belts and cages, are readily available and easily installed in a car. Using these straps may protect both the animal and the people.
DRIVEN BY AN UNTETHERED ANIMAL
When most drivers know that using seat belts or pet restraints while driving with a pet is safe, only 16% of pet owners who bring their pets along indicated they do so. Not using pet restraints while driving makes drivers more likely to get into an accident.
Furthermore, the driver and any other passengers in the car are at serious risk of injury if an accident happens while the pet is not secured. While it is not against the Law to drive with a dog, drivers must recognize that they should take every care to minimize the chance of an accident.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT USING SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT?
Selfies while driving are becoming more and more common. Taking selfies and using social media while driving has a lot of concerns, even if no big research has shown that doing so increases the probability of an accident.
POSING FOR A SELFIE WHILE DRIVING IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF DISTRACTION FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGERS.
While driving, a motorist must take his or her eyes off the road to snap and post a selfie, pose for one, or share one on social media.
It takes more time to take and share a selfie than text: Texting while driving is a major cause of automobile accidents. We can see that when comparing texting to shooting and posting selfies, the motorist is distracted for longer since selfies take more time to complete.
According to safety experts and psychiatrists, some individuals snap selfies to impress others. This means that drivers can take greater risks than they normally would. To get a more thrilling shot, they may drive recklessly or shoot selfies in a risky driving or traffic condition.
Social media activity peaks around 8 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on weekends, corresponding with peak traffic periods in the city. Drivers who take and post self-portraits while driving at night or on the weekends have an increased chance of an accident.
A motorist must take both hands off the steering wheel while taking a selfie or uploading it to social media, increasing the likelihood of a collision.
DISTRACTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA ARE A WASTE OF TIME.
People are generally aware of the hazards of texting and driving, but the risks of snapping selfies and sharing them have not gained much traction, nor is there much social shame linked to them. Selfies are commonplace among drivers, and many of them post them online.
People have even gone so far as to take selfies while lying in a hospital bed following an automobile accident. To avoid accidents caused by distracted driving, drivers are being called on to take greater responsibility.
Injured in a car accident in Colorado Springs?
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, contact Warrior Car Accident Lawyers now to speak with a knowledgeable Colorado Springs distracted driving injury lawyer.
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