Restrictions on texting while driving are generally considered an easy way to prevent auto accidents. Recent reports prove that this is a good assumption- traffic laws that make texting while driving illegal report a decrease in traffic fatalities.

Texting & Driving Most Dangerous for Teens

Texting while driving removes a driver's eyes from the roads for an average of 4.6 seconds. Driving at 55 miles per hour, a driver can cover the length of a football field without looking at the road. This is significantly more risky than other distractions caused by cell phones, such as dialing, talking on a device, or reaching for the device.

Those between the ages of 15 and 21 are the most common perpetrators of texting, with about 13% admitting to being on their cell phones when a car accident occurred. One statistic notes that those texting while driving are six times more likely to be involved in an accident than those that are drunk driving.

Laws That Prevent Texting While Driving

Anti-texting laws that allow officers to pull over motorists for texting while driving has been proven to be the best intervention for drivers.

Two types of laws currently exist to enforce anti-texting laws:

• Primary enforcement laws are those that allow a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver solely for texting while driving.
• Secondary enforcement laws are laws that ban texting while driving but do not allow an officer to pull over a car because of it. A car can be pulled over for another offense, such as speeding, and a ticket for texting while driving can be included.

In states that enacted primary enforcement laws against texting while driving, an average decrease of 20 vehicular deaths per state were prevented. States such as New York, California, Illinois, and Oregon all drivers from texting while driving. Other states prevent drivers under a certain age from texting while driving. Still, many states do not have texting while driving bans at all.

If you or a loved one has been in a car accident where texting while driving was involved, get a car accident attorney by your side. A lawyer can help you obtain compensation you deserve. Browse the directory to find a reputable lawyer in your area!