Most of us like to engage in texting, whether reading or sending the messages. The problem is that many of us are doing it as we drive, which in many cases, as you can imagine, leads to auto accidents. Texting while driving is not only a public safety issue, but has also been the target of new legislation across the country. Many states have discussed a ban on it, while others have already passed laws to make it illegal.
A Big Problem
Even if you only text while driving once in a while, it is helping to compound the problem. In fact, estimates state that in 2006 alone, 159 billion text messages were sent. Given such numbers, there is no doubt that many people are texting while driving.
Because it has lead to so many auto accidents, government entities across the country have been forced to sit up and take notice. While the laws vary from state to state, many places are increasingly putting the brakes on this practice, which takes drivers’ attention off the road.
A Major Distraction
Confirmation that texting when you are driving is dangerous comes from researchers at Clemson University. In their study, they observed a group of individuals in a simulated driving test who engaged in texting at the same time. What they found was that, if people are texting as they drive, they are more likely to unintentionally drive out of their lane as much as 10 percent of the time.
Currently, 14 states and Washington, D.C., have texting-as-you-drive bans. Some states, such as Florida, have no laws on the books yet regarding texting while behind the wheel. Others, such as Louisiana, have adopted such a law for novice drivers only. California has banned it altogether for drivers of all ages and for school bus drivers, making it a primary offense. This means that you can be pulled over for texting as you drive; police don’t need another offense to justify pulling you over. Fines are $20 for the first offense and $50 for repeat violations. Additionally, receiving such citations could lead to an increase in your monthly auto insurance premiums, because you may be seen as a risky driver.
Do Bans Work?
Whether or not banning texting as you drive actually makes the roads safer remains to be seen. Most of the laws are too new for police to actually see whether they result in a decrease in the number of such accidents. But any laws that are put into place to help reduce the annual number of accidents is a step in the right direction. If you are driving and need to text, be sure to pull over to a safe place in order do so. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
