Do Texting Bans Really Prevent Georgia Distracted Driving Crashes?
A controversial new report from the Highway Loss Data Institute suggests that texting bans may be ineffective. In fact, they may even contribute to an increase in distracted driving accidents.
The research which was presented to the Governors Highway Safety Association compared collision rates in four states with texting bans - California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington – with nearby states in which texting while driving is not prohibited. The researchers also compared collision rates in the four states before and after the ban were imposed. What they found was a small increase in texting-caused collisions in those states.
In Minnesota, crashes increased by nine percent after the ban, while there was a one per cent increase in Washington.
Why?
According to the study, non-compliance appears to be the issue. Survey results show that many drivers, particularly younger ones, are ignoring the bans. A survey showed that forty-five percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in states where texting and driving is banned reported to still engage in the practice after the ban, compared with 48% of people in states that have no ban.
Instead drivers are moving their phones down and out of sight when they text. This may increase the risk of an accident by taking the drivers' eyes away from the road for longer periods of time.
That hypothesis supported by research from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Researchers used a driving simulator to determine if heads up displays were safer than heads down texting displays. They found a sharp increase in crash likelihood when drivers looked down to text.
The authors of the study suggest that increasing law enforcement efforts and implementing stiffer penalties may convince more drivers to obey the law.
Thirty states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving. Texting while driving is illegal in Georgia.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured by a distracted driver in Georgia, contact Atlanta car accident attorney Shane Smith. Shane Smith’s legal practice is dedicated to protecting the rights of those hurt in Georgia car accidents and helping them to recover fair insurance compensation for their injuries, property damage, medical costs, and other losses. To learn more, call The Law Offices of Shane Smith at 770-HURT-999 to schedule a free consultation.
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