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Proponents of a law banning texting argue that legislation will decrease accidents

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May 07, 2011 – Proponents of a law banning texting argue that legislation will decrease accidents. But opponents contend that it's nearly impossible to enforce any anti-texting law, since for an officer to prove a violation, the driver must consent to a check of the phone log. That or the officer must present a search warrant, which is unlikely in a simple traffic stop.

But according to a New Hampshire Safety Administration study, twenty-nine percent of fatal accidents in 2010 were caused by distracted drivers. Mobile phones have become an everyday accessory for teens. Phones now take video, photos, store music and are set up for texting, emailing and internet surfing, so they are a constant source of distraction.

And half of all teen drivers admit to texting while they drive. Combine the fact that they have less experience on the road than their older counterparts, plus the fact that texting drivers are eight times more likely to crash than those not texting, and you  have a recipe for disaster.

Of those polled, 18% of teens who admitted to texting while driving did so regularly or often, according to reports.  And more than 51% did at least some texting. Of course, part of those statistics are based on the technology use in general. Fewer older people are captive to technology. Twenty-two states currently have some laws that make texting a crime while driving.

More than 16% of 20-24 year olds did the same regular texting and just over 45% did it occasionally. 14 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds did regular texting and almost 40% did at least some texting in that same age group. The statistics dropped dramatically for 35 to 44 year-olds, with only 6.4% percent even occasionally texting. Over 44, however the percentage goes to about 1% for even occasional use.

But the study is also clear in its conclusion that a driver who texts while operating a motor vehicle is twice as likely to crash as someone who is drunk or otherwise impaired at the .08 alcohol level standard DUI levels in most states. And an alcohol-impaired person is four times more likely to crash than an unimpaired driver. That means a texter is eight-times more likely to cause or be involved in an accident than a non-texter. And in states without laws prohibiting texting, the only recourse may be through the civil courts.
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