texting while driving News

New York Announces Summer Texting-While-Driving Crackdown on Long Island

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week detailed a summer crackdown by the New York State Police on distracted driving on Long Island. Authorities said that in New York State, one in five crashes is a result of distracted driving. …

Idaho Marks 1-Year Ban On Texting While Driving

Idaho State Police say they have issued 66 citations statewide for texting while driving since the texting ban took effect a year ago. The Post Register reported that 16 of those citations since July 1, 2012, occurred in Bonneville County. …

N.J. Toughens Penalties for Texting, Talking on Hand-Held Device While Driving

New Jersey is stiffening the penalties for motorists who use handheld cellphones to talk or text. A bill signed into law Thursday increases the fine to a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $400 for a first offense. A …

Hands-Free Voice Messaging Behind Wheel More Dangerous Than Phoning: Study

Using voice-to-text messaging, included in systems such as Ford Motor Co.’s Sync and Toyota Motor Corp.’s Entune, is more distracting to drivers than making calls with handheld mobile phones, a study by AAA found. Texting a friend verbally while behind …

Survey Says Texting While Driving Common Among N.J. Drivers

New Jersey auto insurance group Plymouth Rock Assurance has released a distracted driving study this week that found approximately 50 percent of passengers polled have asked a driver to stop texting while the car was in motion and nearly a …

National Group Praises Hawaii Cellphone Driving Law

A national nonprofit is cheering Hawaii’s new law that prohibits people from holding cellphones and other portable electronics while driving. Jonathan Adkins from the Governors Highway Safety Association in Washington says Hawaii’s law is tougher than laws in most other …

DriveID Can Block or Track Driver’s Mobile Use

Fleet managers and parents of teenager drivers were given another weapon in their battle against distracted driving on Tuesday. That’s according to Cellcontrol, the maker of technology to stop distracted driving. The Baton Rouge, La.-based company unveiled its driver identification …

West Virginia Enforcing Texting While Driving Ban: 125 Convictions

In the first 10 months since a West Virginia law banned driving while texting or talking on a hand-held cell phone, 125 offenders have been convicted of doing just that. The Charleston Gazette said the number of convictions was based …

Connecticut Bill Would Report Chatty Drivers to Insurers

Frustrated by drivers who ignore Connecticut’s ban on talking and texting on hand-held cellphones, some state legislators want insurance companies to know when their customers break the law. Lawmakers hope the prospect of higher insurance rates will finally encourage people …

Florida Lawmakers Advance Texting While Driving Bill

The Florida House has passed its version of a statewide ban on texting while driving, but the proposal’s fate is uncertain. The House passed the bill (SB 52) on a 110-6 vote Wednesday. It includes an amendment that allows police …