Texting and driving ban fails in Arizona once again

Recently, a bill that would have banned texting while driving was opposed by legislators in Arizona.

Recently, an Arizona state senator proposed a bill that would have made it illegal to write, send or read text messages while driving, states azcentral. However, legislators in the state voted against this ban, making it the ninth year in a row that legislation banning this form of inattentive driving in the state has failed. If this bill had succeeded, texting drivers would have been fined $100 for a first offense. Because this bill did not pass, Arizona remains as just one of two states in the nation that does not have some form of legislation in place prohibiting texting while driving.

Why the bill failed

One reason why this bill failed is because some legislators think that a texting while driving ban is unnecessary. Currently, law enforcement officials are able to cite people for distracted driving under a law that is related to driving at a reasonable speed. Under this law, law enforcement officials can cite motorists on the basis that texting and driving at any speed is hazardous to others. However, the senator who sponsored this bill commented that texting is a serious issue that needs to be treated similarly to drunk driving.

Texting and driving is extremely dangerous

Distracted driving, including texting while driving, is a problem in Arizona and throughout the country that causes victims to sustain serious injuries, like brain damage, in catastrophic accidents every day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than nine people die and over 1,000 are injured in distracted driving-related accidents on a daily basis. However, texting while driving is particularly hazardous because it combines all three types of driver distraction, which include:

  • Manual - drivers can become manually distracted when they take their hands off of the steering wheel while their vehicle is in motion.
  • Cognitive - cognitive distraction occurs when drivers no longer remain mentally focused on operating a vehicle.
  • Visual - drivers who take their eyes away from the road in front of them are visually distracted.

Additionally, a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be in a car accident than drivers who do not become distracted.

Recovering after an accident

Drivers in Arizona who are involved in a distracted driving-related accident may sustain injuries that negatively impact their ability to live a normal daily life. If you were harmed in a collision caused by a negligent driver, speak with an attorney to determine what compensation may be available to you.

Keywords: distracted, driving, texting, accident