Driving requires people to pay attention to the road, other vehicles and pedestrians to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, drivers often focus on other things, including text messages, while behind the wheel. These actions can lead to deadly car collisions.
While it is difficult to determine the number of drivers texting behind the wheel, the good news is that the number of texting-related deaths has declined. According to Forbes, 396 people died in accidents involving texting drivers in 2020, down from 430 in 2019. There may be several reasons for this decrease.
Most states have laws against texting while driving
Nearly all 50 states have made texting while driving illegal. These laws allow law enforcement officers to stop and cite drivers for texting behind the wheel. Most drivers follow the laws to avoid these penalties, which has lowered the incidents of distracted driving crashes.
Apps reward drivers for not texting and driving
If following the law is not reason enough for drivers to avoid texting, several insurance companies have apps that reward drivers for good driving habits. Drivers that keep their phones locked while driving may receive discounts on their car insurance rates.
Safety campaigns educate drivers on the dangers of texting and driving
Several schools and government departments have enacted campaigns to educate new and experienced drivers about the dangers of texting and driving. Showing drivers the negative results of texting behind the wheel may encourage them to keep the phone out of sight.
A declining trend in deaths caused by texting drivers is a positive result that can continue with the ongoing support of all drivers.