According to the Texas Department of Transportation, one in five accidents involve driver distraction. Driver distraction refers to any activity which takes the driver's eyes off the road (visual distraction), their hands off the wheel (manual distraction), or their mind off the task of driving (cognitive distraction).

TxDOT, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that drivers who use cell phones while driving have a higher risk of an accident than drivers who don't, whether using a hands-free device or holding their cellphone.

Unlike many states, Texas does not have a statewide ban that prohibits the use of cell phones for all drivers, while many local jurisdictions do limit or prohibit the use of cell phones while behind the wheel.

Texas Cities Take Local Action

In the absence of a statewide ban against texting while driving, dozens of Texas cities have taken the matter into their own hands. According to the Texas Legislative Council, forty cities have issued ordinances that prohibit texting while driving. Just a few of these cities include:

• Arlington
• Austin
• Corpus Christi
• El Paso
• Galveston
• Grand Prairie
• San Antonio

If a driver is caught texting behind the wheel in a city with a local ordinance that bans texting while driving, they could be fined up to $500.

Cell phone ordinances in Texas fall into three categories:

• A ban on all wireless communication devices.
• A ban on texting and driving.
• A ban on texting and driving, and the use of other wireless communication devices.

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the popularity of mobile devices has caused unintended, and in many cases, dangerous consequences. The FCC has officially recognized that cell phones are linked to a significant increase in distracted driving, and it should be stopped.

If you have been injured in an accident at the hands of a distracted driver, don't hesitate to search our directory to find a reputable car accident attorney in your area!