As teen traffic deaths rise, will TX ban texting while driving?

March 26, 2013 (Press-News.org) As teen traffic deaths rise, will TX ban texting while driving?

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The number of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle accidents rose during the first six months of 2012, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The report indicated that teen driver fatalities rose by 19 percent during the first half of the year.

Teen driver fatalities rose by just 3 percent in 2011, the first time there had been an increase in eight years. In total, 240 teenage drivers aged 16 and 17 died in motor vehicle accidents during the first half of 2012.

While the reasons for the increase in teen driver fatalities are uncertain, those who put the report together suggest the recovering economy played a role. Teenagers are often heavily affected by economic downturns, as they typically have restricted finances. As the economy improved, they had a greater ability to pay for gas, leading to more teens on the road.

In fact, traffic fatalities in all age groups rose during the first six months of 2012; however, the number of teen drivers killed had a much higher increase. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities across every demographic rose by 8 percent during the same period.

TX lawmakers renew efforts to ban texting while driving

Teenagers are the group most likely to be killed in a distracted driving accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA has reported that 11 percent of drivers under 20 who are involved in an auto accident that results in fatalities were distracted when the collision occurred.

Consequently, some Texas legislators are trying to pass legislation that would prohibit all motorists in Texas from texting while behind the wheel. A similar bill was passed in the legislature in 2011, but Governor Perry vetoed the bill.

Currently, 25 cities in Texas have implemented texting while driving bans, but a statewide ban has yet to be passed. In addition, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from texting while on the road. The current ban does not cover the entire teenage demographic, though -- which, as a whole, has been considered the group most at risk of distracted driving collisions.

Other distracted driving laws have already been passed in Texas, including a ban on all cellphone use -- including the use of hands-free technology -- for novice and bus drivers. All Texas motorists are also banned from texting and using handheld cellphones while driving through school zones.

When someone is injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, he or she may be entitled to compensation. If you have been injured in such a collision, consulting with a skilled personal injury attorney will ensure your rights are protected.