Laws that ban the practice of texting while driving are designed to keep drivers' attention on the road and avoid accidents, but new research published Tuesday by the Highway Loss Data Institute suggest otherwise. Laws banning texting while driving may actually increase the risk of road crashes, according to the study.
Thirty states and the District of Columbia have banned texting while driving .As more states ban the practice – Massachusetts will become the 31st to do so on Thursday. But the bans haven't been effective. In fact, they may be responsible for a slight increase in distracted driving crashes.
According to USA Today, "Researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute compared rates of collision insurance claims in four states -- California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington -- before and after they enacted texting bans. Crash rates rose in three of the states after bans were enacted."
As with the earlier HLDI report, this new one is being denounced as “completely misleading” by federal highway safety officials.
Transportation Secretary Ray said “Lives are at stake, and research says that tough laws, good enforcement, and increased public awareness will help put a stop to the deadly epidemic of distracted driving on our roads.’’
As for what might account for an increase in crashes, speculation centered on the possibility that drivers were even more distracted by their own efforts to conceal their texting from view lest it be exposed to possible law enforcement.
Experts also say that while texting is dangerous, distracted driving includes many other activities such as talking on the phone, reading, eating, and putting on makeup.
