People have been driving while distracted since the invention of the automobile. From distracting passengers and pets to eating and drinking behind the wheel, to applying makeup, reading maps, and trying to manage children in the backseat, distracted driving can and does cause car accidents.
Distracted driving refers to engaging in any activity that takes one’s attention away from the primary task of driving, but of all forms of driver distraction, texting is “the most alarming distraction,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA reports that when you send or read a text, it takes your eyes off the road for five seconds and at 55 mph, that’s equivalent to driving across a football field with your eyes shut.
Texas’ Law on Texting & Driving
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reports that one out of every five crashes involves a distracted driver. “Drivers who use cell phones in their vehicles have a higher risk of collision than drivers who don’t, whether holding the phone or using a hands-free device,” according to TxDOT.
In 2017, lawmakers in Texas banned texting while driving across the state. Under Texas law, drivers are strictly prohibited from reading and writing texts, but they’re also banned from reading and writing emails on an electronic device while driving.
“Many local areas have passed stricter ordinances which completely limit any cell phone use while driving, so it is the responsibility of drivers to learn the laws in their local areas,” according to TxDOT’s website.
What are the cellphone prohibitions in Texas?
- Drivers cannot send texts
- Drives cannot read texts
- If a driver has a learner’s permit, they are banned from using a cellphone for six months
- All drivers under the age of 18 are banned from using wireless communication devices
- School bus drivers are banned from using cellphones when children are present
- While driving in school zones, drivers are banned from using cellphones
Have you been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver? If so, reach out to The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to file a claim for compensation.