In the war on distracted driving, it seems that good news always comes accompanied by bad. That’s especially true where teenaged drivers are concerned.
Just as Reuters reports (via The Huffington Post) that states with laws against texting while driving have seen notable dips in the habit among teenagers, Forbes finds that the overall rates of teenage texting behind the wheel are still alarmingly high despite those state-specific dips.
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that the number of texting-while-driving tickets in their state has “soared.” That’s double-edged news: it shows that something is being done to address the problem, but also that drivers aren’t getting the message.
Here in Arizona, we’ve yet to enact a statewide ban on texting behind the wheel, though some cities (including Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson) have their own local prohibitions. Earlier this year, the state legislature declined to take more comprehensive measures, marking the ninth year in a row that similar legislation has failed.
It may come as no surprise, then, that texting while driving remains an enormous problem for Arizona drivers — teenagers and adults alike. In fact, distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of Arizona auto accident deaths.
As Phoenix auto accident attorneys, we want to stress that just because the state hasn’t formally banned the practice, texting while driving can still constitute negligence under state personal injury law.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a distracted driving incident, our attorneys can help you aggressively pursue the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today to learn more.
