States cracking down on texting

Across the United States lawmakers are taking a whack at making roads safer for teen drivers. Like it or not, text messaging is a major distraction on the road. Add in being a new driver and the combination is especially deadly. As of Jan. 1, 2009 California was the latest state to ban texting while driving.

The new law prohibits all drivers from sending, receiving or reading text-based communication. This includes text messages, e-mail and instant messages.

States that have already adopted similar laws are Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington. These states ban texting for everyone, and Washington was the first to adopt the law last January.

Indiana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and North Dakota are among the states considering bans on texting this year. The Indiana bill would be aimed at drivers 18 and under, and would address both talking and texting on cell phones. North Carolina has already placed bans on cell phone use for those 18 and under and is looking to expand the law to all drivers.

Texas is also on that list. Look for more information in the coming days on t-driver.com.