According to the New York Times, “distracted driving has become a threat on the nation’s roads.” The article continues, “Studies say that drivers using phones [in general] are four times as likely to cause a crash as other drivers. Yet Americans have largely ignored that research.” The question remains, what are we doing to keep drivers safe?
Recently, Tucson banned texting while driving. This is no surprise, because “according to a University of Utah study using a driving simulator, [drivers] are eight times more likely to crash.” A similar ban was also introduced in the Arizona state legislature during the current session, but was defeated. The Governors Highway Safety Association reported that as of the beginning of April, 37 states have banned texting while driving.
“Texting is bad as being drunk behind the wheel. You have people who will text and look down at their phone, not bothering to look up,” explained Jennifer Soules.
For Tucson, “Texting drivers not involved in an accident could receive a minimum civil penalty of $100. The penalty would be a minimum of $250 in the case of an accident.”
