States that have banned texting while driving report a lower number of traffic deaths than other states, a new study finds.
Texting while driving is a serious issue and the cause of a large chunk of traffic deaths. A new study finds that laws that ban texting and driving are effective in lowering traffic fatalities.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health found that states that followed this rule reported fewer traffic deaths than states without such laws in place.
"Our results indicated that primary texting bans were significantly associated with a 3 percent reduction in traffic fatalities among all age groups, which equates to an average of 19 deaths prevented per year in states with such bans," study author Alva O. Ferdinand said in a press statement. "Primarily enforced texting laws that banned only young drivers from texting were the most effective at reducing deaths among the 15- to 21-year-old cohort, with an associated 11 percent reduction in traffic fatalities among this age group in states with such bans."
Surprisingly, similar texting bans implemented on older people aged between 21 and 64 were not as effective.
"We were a little surprised to see that primarily enforced texting bans were not associated with significant reductions in fatalities among those ages 21 to 64, who are not considered to be young drivers," Ferdinand said. "However, states with bans prohibiting the use of cellphones without hands-free technology altogether on all drivers saw significant reductions in fatalities among this particular age group. Thus, although texting-while-driving bans were most effective for reducing traffic-related fatalities among young individuals, handheld bans appear to be most effective for adults."
According to a government report, 13 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. All are primary enforcement laws where an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place. Additionally, 44 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. Among these, 4 states prohibit text messaging by novice or teen drivers and 3 states restrict school bus drivers from texting.
Findings of the study are published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
