The legislative proposal that State Senator Judith Zaffirini recently introduced has been approved in the House of Representatives: drivers are now prohibited to read, write, or send text messages from their cell phones while operating a vehicle in Texas. Exceptions to the law include enabling voice command on cell phones, the use of hands-free devices, and the use of a GPS.
In recent years, texting has become an increasingly serious problem for motorists. Distracted driving is overtaking drunk driving as the leading cause of serious vehicle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers distracted driving the single most pressing safety issue facing drivers today.
According to traffic studies, texting while driving increases the risk of a traffic accident up to 23 times. On average, texting drivers take their eyes off the road for 4.6 to 6 seconds – long enough to cause an accident. Many Texas cities already had municipal regulations in place to prohibit texting while driving, but now the entire state of Texas is joining more than 30 other states in the union with a law that explicitly prohibits the action.
If you or one of your loved ones has been injured in a Texas car accident because of a driver who was texting or otherwise distracted, please contact the experienced car accident lawyers at The Cochran Firm Dallas today to schedule your free initial consultation.
