The Insurance News

Earlier this month, the New York Senate took a tougher stance against texting while driving, approving a bill that fortifies exisitng laws against the act.

New York is one of 32 states (plus the District of Columbia) in which texting while driving is banned for all drivers. But state legislators are looking to strengthen current law to make it easier for police officers to ticket texting while driving and also by increasing penalties for the act.

On May 2, the Senate passed a bill that changed texting while driving from a secondary offense to a primary offense. Because texting while driving is currently a secondary offense, drivers can only be ticketed for texting while driving if they are pulled over by police officers for a primary offense, such as a stop sign violation or speeding.

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A new bill that would ban the act of texting while driving in Maine is working its way through the State Legislature.

Senator Bill Diamond is sponsoring LD 736, legislation that specifically aims to prohibit texting while driving. The bill would ban sending electronic communications, including text messages, instant messages and e-mails, using a portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle.

Using global positioning or navigation systems would not be included on the list of prohibited activities.

Violators would be fined a minimum of $100.

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SEATTLE /PRNewswire/ — A new PEMCO Insurance poll shows that although the number of Washingtonians who text message while driving has increased, 83 percent of drivers surveyed either support the fines for enforcing the new no-texting law, or think they should be even higher.

According to the poll, opinion among Washington drivers is divided when it comes to the cost of committing a texting offense while driving.

Forty-four percent of those surveyed said the $124 fine for texting is fair, while about 40 percent said the offense is serious enough to warrant a higher fine. Read more…

Not sure if texting while driving is legal in your state?

This infographic from NPR offers a detailed look at each state’s current or proposed law for texting while driving.

Check it out at States Accelerate Effort To Ban Texting While Driving.

Pay particular attention to Utah, where offenders could face up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. That’s a hefty price tag that could get even higher if a point is added to your driving record and your auto insurance premium rises.

Texting while driving is both an expensive and dangerous habit that can lead to higher auto insurance rates for all consumers and roadways that are less safe.

Given their prevalent use among teenagers, mobile devices may present an even greater temptation while they are behind the wheel. However, a company recently announced it has released a new product that may help prevent young people from using a cell phone while driving.

TxTStopper is a device that can be installed in a vehicle that disables cell phone use while a car is in drive. Read more…