Should Texting & Driving be Illegal?
On behalf of Tylka Law Firm and Mediation Center posted in Car Accidents on Friday, July 29, 2016.
Whether you watch the national news, your local station or simply scroll through trending topics on Facebook, distracted driving remains one of the most controversial subjects on the roads right now. While Texas still doesn’t have an actual law on the books prohibiting the use of hand-held devicies when you are behind the wheel, it doesn’t mean that the impact of distracted driving isn’t being felt across the region.
According to TxDoT, more than 100,000 vehicular accidents in 2015 resulted due to the driver being distracted by using their phones, whether simply making a call or sending a text. It’s a pervasive problem, with over 35% of drivers being surveyed reported using their cell when behind the wheel in some capacity.
Does this mean you shouldn’t use your phone when driving? Absolutely. Here are a few reasons why.
A state law is in the works
While a no-texting bill was quashed last year by the Texas legislature, another grass-roots movement has started to pressure the lawmakers into drafting a new one. With 46 states that already have texting bans on the books and fourteen with no hand-held cell phone use at all, it’s clear that a similar legislation will happen in Texas sooner or later.
Legal or not, people are dying
There’s always your personal liability when considering risky behavior. The stats are not in your favor when you think you are a better driver than most and can handle staring at a tiny screen while running 55 mph down the highway. When you get into an accident due to distracted driving you can be cited for negligent operation, your insurance rates will increase, and worst of all, you can injure or kill somebody.
Local statutes are currently in place
While the state has not managed to put a distracted driving law in practice yet, over 60 communities across the state have. In other words, when visiting somebody else’s neighborhood, you could get pulled over and cited for doing something that is legal in your backyard. While you wouldn’t face any criminal charges in these instances, there would be lost time, money and possible repercussions from your insurance carrier should you get caught.
Stop texting now; save lives and money in the future
There’s an easy way to avoid any negative results of using your phone in any way while in your car: stop doing it. It may be a habit to check your phone when you put on your seatbelt, but maybe it’s time for a new habit.
Place your phone into the glove compartment or the back seat when you get behind the wheel. It’s that simple. When it is out of reach, even when your notifications go off, you won’t be able to send a reply, check your email or make that totally not important phone call. It can wait. Your life and everyone else using the road will be better off when you make the responsible choice.
