Many states have passed bans on texting while driving. While Texas has not yet passed a “statewide” ban on texting and driving, certain cities have and you can receive a ticket if an officer observes you violating the ban within the city's limits, including school zones.

According to statistics reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Thirty-one percent (31%) of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 indicated they either read or sent text messages or email messages while driving within the 30 days prior to being surveyed.

• Nearly half of all high school students who are 16 or older text or email while driving,
•  A Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed a correlation between texting while driving and a tendency to drink while driving. Students who text while driving are two times more apt to ride with a driver who had been drinking and five times more likely to drink and drive than students who do not text while driving.
• Students who frequently text while driving have an even greater likelihood of riding with a driver who had been drinking or a greater tendency to drink and drive themselves than students when compared with students who text less frequently while driving.

A PRWeb article points out that in 2012, texting while driving replaced drinking while driving as the top cause of teenage driver car accidents and fatalities. More than 11,000 U.S. traffic fatalities were linked to texting.

However, a new app by DataLynk Communications Corporation may provide a solution for parents looking to safeguard their teenagers. The app detects when the person is driving through the Global Positioning System (GPS) on the cell phone. The app then restricts incoming and outgoing calls, texting and emails. When the car stops, the app automatically deactivates so you can use your phone again.

Law firms develop effective case strategies for establishing fault in accident cases. From a legal standpoint, your attorney can use evidence of texting while driving to prove that the other driver was negligent. If you suffer injuries in a car accident, work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you recover compensation for damages.