Texting While Driving - textI live in Texas where you can get a specialized license plate that says, "Don't Tread On Me" at the bottom. Perhaps it is that kind of mentality that is the reason why Texas is one of only eight states in the country that has not passed a statewide law banning texting while driving.

1. Does Passing Laws Banning Texting While Driving Really
Help

2. I live in Texas where you can get a specialized license plate
that says, "Don't Tread On Me" at the bottom.

3. Perhaps it is that kind of mentality that is the reason why
Texas is one of only eight states in the country that has not
passed a statewide law banning texting while driving.

4. Why Has Texas Not Passed A Law Banning Texting While
Driving

5. If we all know that sending a text message while driving is
dangerous, then what is the hold up in Texas and the other
seven states that have not banned the practice statewide.

6. Perhaps it is because it has been difficult to demonstrate
that such a law really stops drivers from texting while
driving.

7. I play on a hockey team with a fellow that has been a police
officer for over a decade.

8. He has been to the scene of hundreds of crashes in that
time and he told me that he has never had a driver say to
him, "Office I am at fault because I was sending a text
message while I was driving, got distracted and I caused the
accident.

9. " It just doesn't happen.

10. If driver's do not admit fault in a state that does not have a
law prohibiting texting while driving, what do you think the
chances are that drivers in states where it is against the law,
are going to step forward and admit responsibility.

11. And since most crash data is
based on the self-reporting of
drivers, then just how difficult
is it to really know the degree
of effectiveness of laws that
ban this kind of activity while
driving?

12. So the question becomes, does passing a law banning
sending a text while driving actually reduce this type of
cellphone use? Or does this type of law simply make drivers
that much more leery to admit that they had been using
there cellphone to send a text message?

13. Cities Take The Lead In Banning Texting While Driving

14. In Texas, around forty cities have taken it upon themselves
not to wait for the State of Texas to take action and have
passed ordinances prohibiting texting while driving.

15. Some cities, like Austin have
even gone so far as to pass
ordinances that ban drivers
from using any type of hands-
free electronic device while
driving.

16. In Austin's case, they moved to this broader ban on all
electronic devices because it is easier for police to see a
driver holding a cellphone up to their ear, than it is to see a
driver holding a cellphone in their lap as they send a text
message while driving.

17. As someone who has lived in Texas for over thirty years I
am all for the idea of not having my rights tread upon.

18. But that does not include the right of someone who
chooses to be texting while driving being responsible for
damage to either my vehicle or my person.