Texting and Driving: The New Texas Law

Originally published by Misha.

Effective September 1, 2017, texting while driving will be illegal in the state of Texas. This is a monumental move for the state and comes in light of reports that injuries and deaths caused by distracted drivers are on the rise in Texas. On June 6th, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 62 into law, solidifying a proposal that will make texting while driving in Texas punishable by a fine of $25-99 for first-time offenders and $100-200 for those who are repeat offenders. Furthermore, House Bill 62 states that if a car accident that results in death or serious injuries is caused by a driver who was texting while driving, the person can face fines up to $4,000 and jail time.

Texting and Driving Statistics

It is no secret that texting and driving has become a growing, deadly problem in the United States. According to AAA, 94% of teen drivers are aware of the dangers of texting and driving, but a reported 35% say they do it anyway. Sadly, 11 teens die every single day as a result of texting while operating a motor vehicle. Smartphones have become a large part of our everyday life, presenting numerous temptations for drivers of all ages. Distracted drivers are some of the most dangerous on the roads today, and many people, unfortunately do not realize how quickly things can change in mere seconds. Here are a few additional statistics that display just how dangerous texting while driving is:

• The National Safety Council states that smartphones lead to 1.6 million crashes in the U.S. every year
• Approximately 330,000 injuries occur every year as a result of crashes caused by drivers who are texting
• 1 out of every 4 accidents in the U.S. is caused by texting and driving
• Texting while driving is reportedly 6x more likely to lead to an accident than driving while under the influence of alcohol
• Texting while driving leads to a 400% increase in time spent with eyes not on the road

These are just a few statistics that highlight the dangers of texting while driving. More states are doing what Texas did this summer – implementing stricter texting while driving laws – in the hopes of raising awareness about how deadly texting and driving can be. In regards to House Bill 62, it is important to note that the new law only addresses “reading, writing, or sending text messages via a wireless device”. While many cities within Texas (Austin, Denton, and San Antonio, to name a few) have stricter laws such as hands-free laws, the statewide ban is a step in the right direction.

As McKinney car accident attorneys, we are here to answer any questions you may have and help you understand the implications of this new law. If you have been involved in a car accident in Texas that was caused by a driver who was texting, please contact Wormington & Bollinger today. Thanks to Governor Abbott and House Bill 62, drivers who make the poor decision of texting while driving will now be held liable for their actions. The decision to pass this law shows just how serious texting while driving is, and our lawyers are here to help those who have been impacted by texting drivers.

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