More Texas Cities Consider Banning Texting While Driving
Last month, Lubbock, TX, became one of the latest cities in the Lone Star State to consider a citywide ban on texting while driving. Governor Perry has thus far voted down any statewide ban on the dangerous practice, leaving it up to individual cities to decide. Currently, texting while driving is only banned statewide in active school zones.
Texting while driving is dangerous behavior that has resulted in numerous auto accidents in Houston and across the state. This behavior involves several distractions that even alone could result in a serious car crash. This includes taking your hands off the steering wheel, taking your eyes off the road, and taking your mind off of driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 18% of auto collisions in 2010 were the result of distracted driving. Another study by Carnegie Mellon found that cell phone use while driving reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%. Numerous other studies further illustrate the dangers of texting while driving and other distracted driving activities.
In Texas, several public campaigns have been launched to combat the dangerous growing trend of adults and teens who text (and even surf the web) while driving. Earlier this year, a Distracted Driving Summit was held and coincided with a statewide “Talk. Text. Crash.” campaign. In Houston, the city Fire Department, Police Department, and other local sponsors promoted a similar campaign called, “Texting Distracts – Watch the Road!”
While Texas policy members debate the best ways to address the issue of texting while driving, the trend of the practice is increasing. Adults and teens are involved in accidents stemming from distracted driver negligence everyday. They do not deserve to suffer for the negligent actions of careless drivers.
An auto accident attorney can help fight for the compensation they need to address related medical expenses, economic losses, and other damages sustained because of the accident. However, more needs to be done to combat this nearly criminal behavior.
