Has the ban ‘texting while driving’ made any difference on auto accidents?

Date: October 1, 2010
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Type: Automobile Accident Prevention

A recent study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute stated there is no evidence that laws banning texting while driving have affected the amount of automobile accidents by distracted driving. In fact it is the contrary; the laws may have increased the amount of crashes.

Thirty states along with the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving

The HLDI study looked at the crash rates before and after text-ban laws took effect in four states: California, Minnesota, Washington and Louisiana and compared it to surrounding states that have no such laws. The study found that the bans did nothing to reduce automobile crashes, in fact in three of the four states, crash rates increased after the texting while driving ban.

A study from the University of Glasgow shows that focusing on something on your lap, rather than having the phone’s display at a normal viewing level, might be more hazardous for a texting driver. There an increase could be when drivers, texting in states where it is illegal, hide their phones while driving.

Forty-five percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in states where texting and driving is banned reported to still partake in the practice after the ban, compared with 48% of people in states that have no ban.

According to the HLDI, there is no evidence that banning hand-held phones reduces crashes.

Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyer

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