MANY DRIVERS HAVE YET TO GET THE MESSAGE Forty-four states ban all drivers from texting behind the wheel, but that doesnt seem to stop many of us. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that at any given daytime moment, over 600,000 drivers are using cell phones or other electronic devices while they are driving. In 2012, over 421,000 drivers were injured due to distracted driving, and 3,328 people were killed, the agency says. Texting is among the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, tripling the risk of a crash, but it is often difficult to detect. If a person is hiding their electronic device in their lap or other less than obvious place it can be hard for an officer to observe them texting, says Technical Sergeant James Cleary, spokesperson for the New York State Police. While texting is illegal in most states, a violation is treated very differently depending on where you live. Fines for a first-time offense vary from as little as $20 to as much as $250. About a third of states assign drivers license points (See 10 things you need to know about drivers license points) or consider a texting ticket a moving violation. Others specifically prohibit use of a texting ticket as a reason to raise insurance rates. If a texting ticket does hit your record, insurers typically see it as a minor infraction, says Insurance managing editor Des Toups. Its like a speeding ticket for 5 mph over. Your rate shouldnt go up if thats the only thing on your record. If you have other tickets as well, it could be a different story. A texting ticket involving an accident is more serious. Fines typically jump dramatically, and an injury accident can even bring a year in jail in Maryland. Click ahead for a quick rundown on the latest techniques the police are employing to spot texters. msn/en-us/money/autoinsurance/6-ways-the-cops-know-youre-texting/ss-BBd0BeO
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 03:09:49 +0000
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