How Effective is Illinois' Ban on Texting and Driving?

 Posted on May 13, 2014 in Personal Injury

It is an unfortunate fact that many stories heard today involving texting and driving have tragic outcomes. In light of this, it is not surprising that several states, including Illinois, are enacting laws that ban such activity while driving as an attempt to crack down on car accidents that are the result of distracted driving.

In fact, a recent news story by NBC Chicago examined whether such laws are actually making a difference on Illinois roadways as there are countless drivers involved in texting and driving accidents. Sadly, their lives are forever shattered by the incidents. It is a stark reality that drivers who text not only put themselves at risk when choosing to do so, but put other drivers on the road at risk as well. The prevalence of these accidents is leading to legal changes in Illinois and throughout the country.

A total of 43 states have passed bans on texting and driving. Twelve of those states, including Illinois, have taken the ban further to include any handheld use of devices while driving. However, no matter how strict such laws are written, their effectiveness depends on drivers who follow them. Unfortunately, it is not difficult to spot drivers on any roadway who still make the decision to text and drive. It seems, then, that it falls on law enforcement to take the bans seriously in the enforcement of them.

Police Enforcement

NBC Chicago reports that police enforcement of Illinois' ban varies by locality. Officers in some cities are more likely to give warnings while others skip the warnings altogether and issue tickets straight away. Chicago has been known to issue tickets on both the city ban and the statewide ban. Perhaps the reason some cities are opting for the warnings so early in the year is to give people a chance to get familiar with the ban and increase the number of tickets issued as time goes by.

The Executive Director of the State Chiefs of Police says that although some communities may be off to a slow start in enforcing the ban, the end goal is to completely eliminate cell phone use while driving. He compares the ban to the law requiring seat belts, which was also met with resistance when first passed but is now responsible for saving numerous lives. Today, more than 5,000 deaths per year are caused by distracted driving, a number that signifies a problem that needs to be addressed.

Accident and Injury Attorney

If you or someone you know was injured in an accident due to distracted driving, it is advisable to consult with an experienced accident and injury attorney. Contact an Illinois personal injury attorney today to schedule a consultation. We have successful experience representing clients in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, and Will Counties.