More and more states and local municipalities around the country are enacting bans on texting while driving. But while the intent is good, do such laws really work? If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, please contact the Denver car accident attorneys at the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, at (303) 219-7377 today to schedule your free consultation.
Conclusions are mixed when it comes to the efficacy of texting while driving bans. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, such bans really do work, but only somewhat. In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, UAB researchers examined data from 2000-2010. They found that states that have enacted texting while driving bans experience, on average, a 3% decrease in traffic deaths.
On the other hand, another study from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee that examined behavior between 2007 and 2010 found that drivers do tend to adjust their behavior immediately following the enactment of such laws, however, most individuals had returned to their earlier behavior within a few months. This is the case especially when enforcement is perceived as nonexistent or ineffective.
In the state of Colorado, it is illegal for all motorists, regardless of age, to text while driving. While novice drivers (under than the age of 18) are prohibited from all cell phone use while behind the wheel, adults are allowed to talk on the phone, but not text, while driving. The aim of such legislation is, of course, to prevent car accidents and promote public safety. No law, however, can protect the innocent from a careless or distracted driver.
If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a texting driver, it is your right under the law to seek compensation for your pain, suffering, and losses. Please contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, at (303) 219-7377 to schedule a consultation with a Denver car accident attorney. We also have offices in Boulder and Fort Collins.
