Pushing for a Nationwide Ban on Driving While Texting | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog

As a general rule, it is not illegal to text while driving in Texas. AAA has initiated a nationwide campaign to pass federal and state laws banning text messaging by all drivers in all 50 states by year 2013. AAA is seeking to implement legislation that will make it illegal to send, write or read text messages or e-mails while driving.

As of September 1, 2009, for the first time, the Texas legislature imposed state-wide restrictions on the use of cell phones and pda’s. The new laws include:
•1. No handset talking or texting while driving are allowed when the school zone is active. Hands-free devices while driving and handset use WHILE STOPPED are allowed as are calls in certain emergency situations.

•2. Teenage drivers are prohibited from using wireless devices while driving. This includes a ban on talking on a cell phone, from sending or receiving text messaging and from sending or reading emailing while driving.

•3. Learners permit holders are prohibited from using handheld cell phones in the first six months of driving.

•4. School bus operators prohibited from using cell phones while driving if children are present.

Research also shows that approximately one in five drivers admit to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days. The popularity of texting is unquestionable. About two-thirds of Texas teenagers surveyed said they have talked on a cell phone while driving in the past six months, according to the state Transportation Institute. More than half said they had read or sent text messages while driving. A 2007 study said cell phone use was among the primary causes of fatal car crashes among teens. According to CTIA, the number of monthly texting messages reached 110 billion at the end of 2008, a more than 11-fold increase in three years. AAA is asking drivers to go to its website at www.aaafoundation.org/multimedia/headsup.cfm to learn more about its efforts to stop driving while texting.

The Montes Law Group, P.C. is a law firm with offices in Irving and Dallas Texas. We are experienced and qualified attorneys who dedicate our practice to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of car accidents and other cases where people are severely injured through the negligence and reckless conduct of others.