New York Injury Talk Blog

In a move to combat the growing number of serious injury accidents on New York state roadways, legislators have enacted a new law, which makes it illegal to text and drive at the same time. This law also prohibits the use of portable and mobile handheld devices for reading, typing and sending text messages while driving. Talking on a hand held cell or mobile phone is of course, already against the law. Anyone, in violation of the new law will face fines of up to $150.

This is definitely a crucial step in reducing the effects of distracted driving – a problem that is growing rapidly with the ready availability of low cost communication devices. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) looked into the effects of driver distraction with respect to both behavioral and vehicle safety countermeasures. In their report released this year, they estimate 5,870 people lost their lives and another 515,000 people were injured in 2008 in police-reported crashes in which at least one form of driver distraction was reported on the crash. Also, according to data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for that same period, driver distraction was reported to have been involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008.