CTIA – The Wireless Association, an international organization that represents the wireless industry, reports that as of December 2007, there were over 255 million cell phone subscribers in the U.S., making up 84% of the population. These users spent 2.1 trillion minutes talking on cell phones, and sent 262 billion text messages during 2008. This is an increase of 23% in subscribers, an increase of 40% in minutes of use, and a 348% increase in text messages sent compared to 2005.
Research shows that 46% of 16 and 17-year-old drivers say they sent text messages while driving. This number increases to 48% for those drivers aged 18-24. Ten states and the District of Columbia currently ban text messaging by novice drivers, and 14 states have an outright ban on texting while driving. A recent Virginia study even found that when drivers texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.
In the State of Florida, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida is supporting a texting ban to be adopted by the Florida Legislature when they reconvene for the 2010 legislative session. Distracted driving is a danger to everyone on the road, and texting while driving needs to be banned. For my previous article about the dangers of distracted driving, please click here. Please visit our firm’s website: www.whkpa.com
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