Texting while driving is a bad idea. It could have serious consequences, the least of which is being stopped by a Maryland police officer. However, despite the fact that police officers could stop a vehicle and issue a ticket and the fact that texting while driving could cause a car accident, numerous drivers continue to do it.
A recent survey indicated that the idea of being pulled over by a police officer for texting while driving does not act as much of a deterrent for drivers. In fact, over the previous two years, 43.7% of drivers who were involved in accidents indicated that they read texts while driving even though they knew they could get stopped by police. Another 42.7% indicated that they typed text messages while behind the wheel even when they thought an officer might see.
Other efforts, like public health campaigns to educate people about the dangers of texting while driving, have not had much luck in stopping the activity either. The report indicated that 96% of survey participants stated that they know using a cellphone while driving is dangerous but did it anyway. The effort that appears to have had the biggest effect on reducing texting while driving is new vehicle safety technology.
Of course, not everyone drives a newer vehicle that offers such technology, and as the study shows, numerous people continue to text while driving. Unfortunately, this means that Maryland drivers are at risk of suffering serious injuries from distracted drivers who could quickly cause a car accident. If individuals suffer harm in a crash caused by a texting driver, those parties may want to consider their legal options for seeking compensation for damages.