Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Two sisters from Revere were rescued from their 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass after their vehicle rolled over the Fox Hill Bridge on Route 107 in Lynn. The vehicle is thought to have struck an angled concrete barrier at the end of the bridge which caused the Oldsmobile to flip.

Three Lynn men are being credited for rescuing the women from the car, which slid down the road on its roof until coming to a stop. The men witnessed the accident as they were fishing nearby.

One of the witnesses rushed to the car, kicked in the passenger side window, and pulled one of the sisters from the wreck. The men then attempted to remove the second victim, but had a difficult time.

Following the arrival of rescue workers, one of the sisters was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment of her head injuries which she sustained in the crash. The woman is currently listed in stable condition. The other passenger in the vehicle was taken to Salem Hospital where she was treated and released for her injuries.

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Our Massachusetts car crash lawyers have learned that Governor Deval Patrick signed the state’s text messaging ban into law last week. The law takes effect in October and bans text messaging while driving for all Massachusetts motorists and all cell phone use for drivers under 18. In addition, drivers 75 and older will be required to take vision tests and renew their driver’s licenses in person.

Texting will be a primary offense, so police will be allowed to pull over and ticket drivers solely because of text messaging. Violators will be issued a $100 fine, and those under 18 will have their license suspended for 60 days. However, violations will not impact insurance premiums.

Police say the ban could be challenging to enforce, but they plan to speak at high school assemblies this fall to raise awareness about the ban. Massachusetts is the 29th state to enact a text messaging ban. This legislation comes after several fatal car crashes involving texting.

Source: New state law spells it out: No texting while driving, Boston Globe, July 3, 2010

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A 29-year-old Framingham driver of a MAZDA3 was arraigned last week. He faces five counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (his car). According to police, the driver swerved in the direction of a grandfather and his grandson after the grandfather told the driver to turn down his music.

The pedestrians weren’t hit, but the grandfather alerted a nearby Massachusetts trooper, who asked the driver to stop. The suspect fled, setting off a high-speed chase down the Massachusetts Turnpike. A state police spokesperson said speeds exceeded 80 mph in some areas.

The driver barreled through several cruisers, hitting at least three. He also injured one trooper, who was later released from a local hospital after being treated for minor injuries. Police are reviewing the pursuit and arrest to check that all rules were followed.

Source: Trooper hurt, driver arrested after Pike pursuit, WHDH.com, June 28, 2010

Continue reading "Massachusetts Trooper Injured By Fleeing Suspect" »

Over the past several months, Massachusetts newspapers and other media have been buzzing about the proposed bill that would ban text messaging behind the wheel. A bill targeting distracted drivers was first introduced six years ago. Several car accidents have occurred in Massachusetts as a result of distracted drivers (not to mention the MBTA accident last year that caused an estimated $9 million in damage), yet Massachusetts legislators are still debating the texting ban.

Part of the problem appears to be that the proposed legislation includes some other controversial measures, among them requiring older drivers to get tested more frequently and banning all hand held mobile devices. These measures were originally separate but were lumped together as part of a safe driving initiative.

Still, legislators say they hope to have the bill in the governor’s hands by July. In the meantime, more than 20 other states have already passed similar text messaging bans.

Source: A Look At Why The Texting Bill In MA Has Stalled, WBZTV.com, May 17, 2010

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Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have created and tested a computer-based training program that would improve hazard anticipation in younger drivers. Inexperienced motorists are more likely to be involved a car accident compared to other groups, and the researchers determined in previous research that this propensity is due to a failure to scan areas of the road for potential hazards.

The researchers then developed a PC-based training program called Risk Awareness and Perception Training (RAPT), which included nine driving scenarios with the potential for an accident involving another vehicle or a pedestrian. Twelve of the drivers (ages 18-21) who participated in the study underwent RAPT, and the other twelve did not.

All of the drivers then drove a vehicle 16 miles, and the researchers measured the eye movements of each participant. Based on the data they gathered, the researchers determined that trained drivers were more likely to look at areas of the road that contained information relevant to the reduction of risks. Even in situations that were markedly different from those shown in training, the drivers still exhibited training effects.

These findings were published in a paper called “Can Younger Drivers Be Trained to Scan for Information that Will Reduce Their Risk in Roadway Traffic Scenarios That Are Hard to Identify as Hazardous?” which appeared in the June 2009 issue of Ergonomics. They also received the 2010 Liberty Mutual Award.

Source: Younger Drivers May Benefit From Training that Targets Hazard Anticipation, EHSToday.com, May 14, 2010

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On Sunday evening around 9pm, a 24-year-old Springfield man crashed his vehicle into a home in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The impact of his Acura hitting the house caused an estimated $25,000 in damage, but fortunately none of the home's occupants were injured.

The driver admitted to text-messaging at the time of the car accident. He was released from the hospital later that night.

Lawmakers say this car crash underscores the hazards of texting behind the wheel and the need for legislation to ban the practice. Regardless of whether texting is legal or illegal, police say they hope that other Massachusetts drivers will take heed.

Source: 24-year-old Springfield man tells Wilbraham police he had been texting when he lost control of his Acura and crashed into a home at 11 Pleasant View Road, MassLive.com, April 26, 2010

Texting Driver Crashes into House, CBS3Springfield.com, April 26, 2010

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Researchers from the University of Massachusetts found that a driver is 20 times more likely to be involved in a car crash while texting than at any other time. The study also discovered that young drivers under the age of 25 are more likely to text behind the wheel than more experienced ones. In fact, nearly half of teen drivers admitted to text messaging while driver in a 2007 survey.

Scientists at UMass used a driving simulator to examine the reactions of motorists and their eye movement. They asked volunteers of various ages to perform tasks such as checking a map or turning on the heat while driving the simulator.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 500,000 people were injured in auto accidents that involved driver distraction in 2008. Another 5,870 died in car accidents involving a distracted driver. "Distracted driving" may include talking on a cell phone, eating, drinking, texting, and talking with passengers, but texting is among the most hazardous activities.

Source: Dashboard deathwish: UMass simulator details risks of texting at the wheel, GazetteNet.com, March 18, 2010

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The last several weeks have seen a flurry of media coverage about the impact of cell phone usage on drivers. The most recent coverage suggests that cell phone bans will not decrease the number of car crashes. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study was released at a conference last Friday.

The HLDI, which is sponsored by the insurance industry, compared roadway accident data from states that have banned driving while texting to states that do not regulate texting. The organization also examined data on monthly collision claims in four states that banned hand-help phones and looked the data before and after the laws went into effect. However, HLDI's data does not distinguish drivers who were using cell phones at the time of the car accident versus other drivers.

The Transportation Department has already renounced HLDI's research, calling the study irresponsible.

Source: Cellphone Curbs May Not Decrease Car Crashes, Wall Street Journal, January 30, 2010

Continue reading "Study Contradicts Previous Research on Car Crashes and Texting" »

Today, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is dedicating its broadcast to people who have lost friends or family members to car crashes that resulted from distracted driving.

The show coincides with the launch of iZUP, a cell phone application created by Illume Software, a Massachusetts-based company. The application automatically launches when it detects that the phone is in a moving vehicle and disables incoming calls or text messages.

During her show this afternoon, Oprah will discuss the dangers of distracted driving and ask drivers to commit to avoid text messaging or talking on cell phones while behind the wheel. Through our auto accident law firm, we have seen the horrific results of distracted driving, and we're glad to see such a prominent public figure educating viewers about it.

Source: Oprah Challenges Viewers to Stop Texting and Driving, Sys-Con.com, January 18, 2010

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Earlier this week, a snowmobile crash killed a Massachusetts man, underscoring the importance of traffic safety with potentially icy conditions. Just after 9:30pm on Monday evening, rescue crews arrived at the scene.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene of the snowmobile accident just before midnight Monday evening.

A representative for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said that operating the snowmobile at high speeds on a plowed road have contributed to the accident. He adds that in the span of a week, five people have sustained serious bodily injury from snowmobile accidents. Fish and Game officers plan to continue patrolling snowmobile trails, citing riders for reckless operating, and enforcing speed limits.

Source: Mass. man dies in snowmobile crash, UnionLeader.com, January 5, 2010

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According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia Health Services center, low blood sugar can pose a hazard to diabetic drivers. The study examined diabetic drivers in Boston, Massachusetts, central Virginia, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their average age was about 42 years old.

While driving with low blood sugar did not actually appear to cause a large number of car accidents, roughly a third of the drivers involved in the study said they checked their blood sugar half an hour before having some kind of driving mishap.

The researchers recommend that diabetic drivers suffering from low blood sugar pull over immediately and wait for their blood sugar to rise before getting back on the road to avoid an auto crash.

Source: Low blood sugar may impair diabetics' driving, Reuters, December 24, 2009

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According to stats from the United States Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than half of the passenger vehicle occupants who died in Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents last year were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. That rate was nine percent higher than the national average.

In response to these sobering statistics, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) has teamed up with State Police and other local law enforcement agencies to launch a special statewide Click It or Ticket campaign. Starting on November 12, the special crackdown is designed to lower the number of fatal car accidents and increase the use of seat belts.

Throughout the month of November, Massachusetts drivers who are pulled over for traffic violations will also be subject to fines if they or their passengers fail to wear a seatbelt.

Source: Dedham Police Department launches special statewide Click It or Ticket Enforcement effort, Dedham Transcript, November 9, 2009

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Over the weekend, a 34-year-old woman from Groveland, Massachusetts was killed when the golf cart she was riding in was hit by a 1995 Ford Windstar minivan. Both vehicles were traveling on Route 16 when the traffic accident occurred around 12:30am.

The driver of the golf cart was identified as a 33-year-old Gloucester man. He sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. A 31-year-old Newton man and his child were also injured. The two received treatment for minor injuries at Memorial Hospital in Conway.

The driver of the minivan, a 46-year-old man from Maine, was not injured in the motor vehicle crash. According to police, the crash is still being investigated, but they suspect that alcohol may have been a factor. So far no charges have been filed.

Woman killed in golf cart accident, Boston Globe, September 7, 2009

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As previously discussed, the National Transportation Safety Board found that drowsy driving was a probable cause in a Newton train accident last year. According to the board, drowsiness is the most common cause of fatal-to-the-driver truck crashes. In fact, the number of fatal truck accidents associated with fatigue is equal to the combined number of crashes related to drugs and alcohol.

Truck drivers and trolley conductors are not the only ones who are susceptible to accidents associated with sleep deprivation. Car drivers are also at risk. In fact, each day, 250,000 United States drivers fall asleep at the wheel, causing 8,000 deaths and 60,000 serious injuries annually.

Because drowsy driving accidents are preventable, the Massachusetts Drowsy Driving Commission made a series of recommendations earlier this year that they hope will reduce drowsy-driving accidents. Educating drivers about the risks of driving while tired is a primary goal, while diagnosing and treating sleep disorders is another important step.

Drowsy-driving tragedies preventable, Boston Globe, August 3, 2009

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While Massachusetts legislators and driver safety advocates weigh the pros and cons of new laws aimed at older drivers, statistics show that teen drivers are also at high risk for car accidents.

Here in Massachusetts, more 18-year-olds were involved in fatal auto accidents in the past two years than any other single age. In 2008, Massachusetts teen drivers were involved in 22,313 motor vehicle accidents according to data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. And, according to national statistics, car crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-to-20-year-olds.

The current debate has dredged up bitterness between drivers at both ends of the age spectrum. Last year, drivers age 80 and older accounted for 2% of car crashes. Several recent, highly publicized accidents involving older drivers have caused legislators to reconsider the need for legislation aimed at this demographic.

Lawmakers already enacted legislation in 2007 that inflicted tougher penalties on younger drivers (specifically 16 and 17 year olds), and they say the changes have led to a drop in speeding and reckless driving citations.

Teens drivers at highest risk of fatal crashes, EnterpriseNews.com, July 10, 2009

Continue reading "Despite Media Attention on Older Drivers, Teen Drivers Still Most Likely to Be Involved in an Accident" »

A study released last week by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) found that over half of United States highway fatalities are related to poor roadway conditions. According to the report, ten roadway-related crashes occur every minute and contribute to 38% of non-fatal injuries.

More than 22,000 fatalities were attributed to deficiencies in the roadway environment, costing the country more than $217 billion each year. That figure breaks down to $20 billion in medical costs, $46 billion in productivity costs, $52 billion in property damage and other resource costs, and $99 billion in quality of life costs. Massachusetts was among the ten states with the highest road-related crash costs per mile of road.

The study, which is entitled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," identifies several ways in which transportation officials could improve road conditions to save lives and reduce injuries sustained during traffic accidents. These include adding rumble strips to shoulders, using brighter and more durable pavement markets, replacing or widening narrow bridges, and reducing pavement edges and abrupt drop-offs, among other improvements.

More than Half of Highway Fatalities Are Related to Deficient Roadway Conditions, PRNewswire.com, July 1, 2009

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According to NewsCenter 5, the Masscachusetts Turnpike Authority has given out over 4,000 "non-revenue" transponders, allowing motorists to drive the Turnpike for free, despite the Turnpike Authority's mounting debt.

Roughly three quarters of those transponders go to state troopers, but many of the others are used by turnpike employees, who pay an annual fee of just $26 in exchange for free unlimited driving throughout Massachusetts with tolls.

In addition, there are reportedly over 200 retired turnpike employees who pay even less ($5/year) to drive the turnpike without paying tolls. Some Massachusetts commuters say this arrangement is unfair, and in fact, the free rides may be ending on November 1 when the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is dissolved, becoming part of the newly-created Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Turnpike Giving Out Hundreds Of 'Free Rides', TheBostonChannel.com, July 2, 2009

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Last Thursday morning at Logan Airport, a construction vehicle almost collided with an airplane when the vehicle strayed into an unauthorized area. The incident occurred at 6:36am and halted all construction at the airport until authorities determine if the near collision occurred because of individual error or a system failure.

According to officials, the driver of a Ford Explorer was on a taxiway and evidently failed to stop at the runway intersection and radio the tower for permission to cross as required by safety procedures. An alarm sounded in the control tower warning about the vehicle on the runway. The truck cleared the runway just as the plane just through the intersection. The unidentified truck driver has been suspended pending an internal investigation. The jet, a US Airways Flight 27, took off safely and arrived in Phoenix as planned.

The last time a high-risk incursion was in 2005 when two jets speeding toward takeoff almost collided at more than 160 miles per hour. Logan Airport has had 16 incursions since January of 2008, but none was as serious as the near accident last week.

Plane, vehicle near a collision, Boston Globe, June 19, 2009

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According to the 100-Car Naturalist Driving Study, which tracked the behavior of the drivers of 100 vehicles for a year, driver inattention is an even more dangerous problem than expects previously believed. Almost 80% of car crashes and 65% of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention, which includes not only distractions but also fatigue.

The study found that the most common distraction for drivers is the use of cell phones. However, the number of auto accidents and near-accidents related to dialing a cell phone is almost identical to the number associated with talking or listening on a cell phone. Younger drivers also had a higher incidence of distraction. Research found that the rate of distraction among 18- to 20-year-old drivers was four times higher than drivers age 35 and older.

Massachusetts and five other states have banned drivers from talking on a hand-held cell phone, but no state has banned the use of hands-free devices, despite the fact that the NHTSA has found that the car accident risk is comparable to that of regular cell phones.

Researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are preparing for a nationwide study involving over 2,500 vehicles, which will give the researchers a wider understanding of different drivers in different environments.

DWD — driving while dialing — among top driver distractions, study finds, Dayton Daily News, March 23, 2009

Continue reading "Study Finds Driver Distraction Even More Dangerous Than Expected" »

In Massachusetts, a new initiative called Road Respect Mobilization is currently in effect statewide. State and local police are working to curtail road rage thought grants from the state Executive Office of Public Safety. The grants range up to $2,000 and cover overtime for radar patrols so that officers can monitor unsafe lane changing, speeding, tailgating, and red light violations. The program runs through April 26.

According to Norton police spokesman Lt. Todd Jackson, "aggressive driving is the cause of many crashes. Our community has seen an increase in incidents involving this behavior, such as 'road rage' incidents.”

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration states that around 6.3 million auto accidents occur every year in the United States. Although the number of accidents related to aggressive driving and road rage is unknown, it is suspected that many of those crashes were related to angry or frustrated drivers.

If you are confronted by an angry driver, police recommend that you avoid eye contact and try to get safely out of the way. If the incident escalates and becomes serious, dial 911.

Look for more patrols to combat aggressiveness, The Sun Chronicle, April 6, 2009

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Last July, a state auditor’s office discovered that in 2005 and 2006 as many as 9,000 drivers had valid driver’s licenses for two to four years after a judge ordered their licenses suspended. The glitch in the Registry of Motor Vehicle’s system meant that some repeat drunk drivers may have used valid licenses for years after they were supposed to be permanently revoked. Until recently, the case dispositions were handled by ground mail, which may have delayed license suspensions.

An internal review revealed that 988 Massachusetts drivers who were convicted of vehicular homicide or DUI between 2003 and 2008 did not have their licenses suspended. The Registry was also missing records for nearly two thousand criminal case dispositions. According to a spokesperson for the Registry, many of the drivers already had their licenses suspended for other offenses.

This week, registry and court officials announced that 58 of Massachusetts’s 62 district courts can electronically transfer driving-related convictions to the RMV at the end of each day to avoid delays or miscommunications.

Registry computer glitch kept suspended drivers on the road, WickedLocal.com, March 23, 2009

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Last week, a state senate committee released a report that recommended legislation to reduce the number of drowsy drivers behind the wheel. According to some experts, there may be as many as 600 sleep-related auto accidents in Massachusetts per year, resulting in the deaths of 90 people.

The committee’s 34-page report recommends that the state require obese commercial drivers to be tested for sleep disorders and that more rest areas serve coffee. The report states that sleep-deprived drivers are just as impaired as those driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Additional recommendations from the report include adding new highway rest areas, limiting the number of hours worked by resident physicians and intern, and allowing coffee chains to give coffee coupons to new drivers and those renewing their driver’s licenses. The hope is that there measures would reduce drowsy driving and thus reduce car crashes as a result of impaired drivers.

Drowsy driving report suggests stiffer penalties, coffee, Boston Globe, March 6, 2009

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The hazards are of talking on a cell phone while driving are well documented. But two recent studies confirmed that cell phone usage also endangers those traveling on foot. Researchers suggest restricting cell phone use by both pedestrians and drivers to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.

According to the study, cell phones initially helped reduce pedestrian deaths and traffic deaths, because accident victims were able to summon medical help quickly and improve their odds of survival. However, that effect disappeared once cell phone ownership reached a “critical mass” of 100 million.

Researchers now say that “cell phones and their usage above a critical threshold adds to motor vehicle fatalities.” They also say it has a “significant adverse effect on pedestrian safety.” The studies analysed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department of Transportation, MADD, and the U.S. Census Bureau, among other agencies.

Cell Phone Studies: Whether You’re Talking While Walking or While Driving, Cell Phones = Increased Fatalities, Rutgers, March 4, 2009

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NBC reports that as a safety precaution Nissan is recalling trucks sold in several states as the result of an airbag issue. Nissan explains that a crash zone sensor, which triggers the front airbags, can be negatively impacted by snow or road salt, causing the trigger to malfunction in the event of a traffic accident.

The truck recall impacts 2005 to 2009 Nissan Pathfinders, Frontiers, and Xterra trucks, which were originally purchased or are currently registered in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and seventeen other states across the country.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of car crashes or injuries in connection with the faulty sensor.

Nissan Trucks Sold In Four State Region Under Recall, MSNBC.com, January 8, 2009

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Last Tuesday morning, a truck driver with Calex Trucking was turning onto Route 9 when the top of his truck grazed the underside of a bridge, pulling several pieces of granite with it. Two pieces still rested on top of the truck when four Newton Police cars and one state trooper arrived at the scene.

Police did not disclose the cost to repair the bridge, which is estimated to be almost a hundred years old. Ken Weaver, who was driving the truck when it grazed the bridge, was uninjured, though he said “I’ve had a bad day since I woke up.” Already, he had faced snowy conditions in Connective and heavy traffic on his way to Massachusetts.

Truck hits Rte. 9 overpass in Needham and takes piece with it, The Daily News Tribune, December 30, 2008

Continue reading "In Needham, Truck Hits Route 9 Overpass, Driver Not Injured" »

According to a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts has as many as 600 sleep-related crashes per year, resulting in serious injuries and, in some cases, fatalities. The state of Massachusetts began investigating the effects of drowsy driving after a motorcyclist was killed by a sleep-deprived driver in 2002.

A panel chaired by Senator Richard T. Moore, of Uxbridge, is considering the possibility of laws to increase penalties for sleep-deprived drivers who cause car accidents and to educate drivers about the dangers of driving while drowsy. Response times are slowed in sleep-deprived drivers, and they are more likely to become distracted, according to a sleep specialist who teaches at Harvard Medical School.

A professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital told the panel that in addition to truck driver, police officers and firefighters are at risk of driving while sleep-deprived. In fact, he estimated that 40% of the motor vehicle accidents that involve police officers may be the result of drowsy driving.

Currently, it is difficult to test for drowsy driving, but technology is under development that would allow officers to test for drowsy driving at traffic stops.

Legislative panel sounds wake-up call on drowsy driving, Boston Globe, November 7, 2008

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Drivers in Lancaster, Massachusetts had an unusual encounter on their afternoon commute last Wednesday. Apparently an injured 200-pound animal was found by the side of Route 2 in Lancaster. Police believe the wild boar was hit by a car. The state trooper who discovered the wounded animal called for reinforcements.

Because the animal was badly injured and could potentially cause a car accident if it wandered into traffic, authorities decided to redirect traffic and put the boar out of its misery. The Boston Globe reports that Chet Hall, a farmer in Royalston, labeled the animal a Russian wild boar based on its rodent-like snout and cinnamon-colored collar. Hall had arrived to claim the animal’s remains for use as coyote bait.

According to a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, wild boars are not usually found in Massachusetts and would require a special permit. The animal was believed to have escaped from a game farm.

Wild boar struck on Route 2 causes a stir, Boston Globe, October 24, 2008

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The Worcester Telegram recently published an editorial in response to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s proposal to raise the minimum driving age across the country. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and the statistics show that younger drivers do have a higher rate of car accidents than those with more experience on the road.

However, according to the editorial, uniformly raising the minimum driving age is not the solution. As the writer points out, Massachusetts issues junior operator’s licenses to drivers aged 16.5. Before driving by themselves, teen drivers must hold a learner’s permit for at least six months and complete classroom driving instruction and training before the wheels. Teen drivers in Massachusetts must also follow restricted driving hours and obey a passenger limit.

Some would suggest the graduated licensing system used in Massachusetts might help drivers gain experience on the road without exposing them to unsupervised or unsafe driving conditions too soon.

State’s graduated licensing for youth best route, Worcester Telegram, September 11, 2008

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According to a Nationwide Insurance study, about a fifth of drivers text while the drive. That statistic increases to two thirds among drivers aged 18 to 24. Almost 80 percent of car crashes in the United States are caused by distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The evidence points to text messaging as a potentially deadly distraction. In 2007, a car accident involving five teenage girl and a tractor trailer claimed the lives of all five girls. It was later discovered that the driver was texting just before the deadly car crash.

Still, the law has been slow to catch up to this technological development. NHTSA does not have a policy in place regarding text messaging while driving a car. Instead, they leave regulations to state and local agencies. So far, Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Washington state have laws banning texting while driving. A ban goes into effect in Westchester County, New York next spring.

Of course, text messaging can also be a hazard to pedestrians. Earlier this week, a 14-year old boy in Florida was killed after stepping in front of a car. He was distracted by a text message on his cell phone. The deputy said they have no plans to file charges against the driver.

Driving While Texting Laws Slow To Catch Up To Problem, InjuryBoard.com, September 23, 2008

Teen Killed In Crash While Texting On Phone, WESH.com, September 23, 2008

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