In an effort to cut down on auto accidents, a number of states have banned texting while driving. However, the states with texting when travelling regulations saw no decrease in auto incidents. In some states the number of crashes really increased. The Transportation Department called the study misleading as it worked to follow through with a national campaign to stamp out text messaging behind the wheel. Figuring out correct enforcement is the key, say insurance industry experts who have faith in the laws. Some who disagree think the laws contribute further to the issue. To keep away from being seen by police, text messaging motorists make use of ever more hazardous practices.
Text messaging on the road an intractable issue
An increase of much more than 16,000 traffic fatalities from 2001 to 2007 was attributed to texting when driving by a study made public by the American Journal of Public Health. But ABC News reports that researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute found no reduction in auto accidents after texting when driving laws were enacted. The conclusions were drawn by comparing the rate of accidents and claims on insurance in California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington prior to and following the passage of texting when driving bans. That crash rates held steady wasn’t the only surprise. In three states, the crashes increased slightly.
Anti-texting laws could worsen the problem
Virtually every person agrees that texting when travelling is dangerous, however the study implies that cell phone laws don’t equal safer roads. In particular, the texting generation is impervious to the restriction, as outlined by the Christian Science Monitor, which pointed out that in the study accidents increased for motorists 25 and younger in all four states. The likely explanation: to stay away from getting a ticket, motorists are holding their devices out of sight, which makes it harder to pay attention while driving. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called the study “misleading”. He responded to the release of the study with a statement of his own. As outlined by LaHood, research has proven that laws targeting distracted drivers are effective. But Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said laws focusing on a single aspect of distracted driving ignore the entire scope of distractions and rely on a ban to solve the whole problem.
Thinking about a different approach from laws
The ineffectualness of distracted travelling laws has shown that people are going to keep on texting regardless. Jared Newman at PC World thinks technology is a better solution than laws that are ignored. Existing options contain text message dictation apps for instance Google Voice for Android and Dragon Dictation for the iPhone. You will find also technological innovations built into the latest automobiles. Newman mentioned MyFord Touch, a hands-free communications technology that minimizes distracted driving. Instead of passing unenforceable laws, perhaps the government could promote collaboration between automakers and technology corporations, also as increase public awareness that such possibilities are available.
Information from
ABC News
abcnews.go.com
Christian Science Monitor
csmonitor.com
PC World
pcworld.com
