Texting Bans Do Not Reduce Crashes, Study Says

A recent Highway Loss Data Institute study found that texting-related crashes were not reduced in states that passed laws banning texting while driving.

Rather, the texting bans are associated with an increase in the number of insurance claims filed for collision damage in vehicle crashes in the months after the laws were passed, according to statistics released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in Virginia.

The HLDI study compared collision claim rates in the months before and after texting while driving was banned in California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington with the rates in nearby states without texting laws.

A previous study by HLDI uncovered similar results for bans on talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving.

The evidence may indicate that texting laws are ineffective and that other measures to cut down on texting while driving should be explored, according to HLDI president Adrian Lund.