According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety administration, teenagers sending text messages on their cell phones account for the greatest number of distracted drivers on the road. Teenagers are involved in three to four times as many distracted driving accidents as older drivers, due to such pursuits as texting while operating a vehicle.
Distracted driving is a growing health and safety concern. A 2009 study from the U.S. Center for Disease Control found that there were more than 5,000 fatalities and almost 450,000 injuries due to distracted driving nationwide. In 2010, the CDC found that 40 percent of drivers aged 18 to 29 admitted to driving while carrying on cell phone conversations, and over 25 percent of drivers in this same age range reported that they regularly send text message or e-mails on their cell phones while driving a car.
Thirty-four states, including Illinois, have laws banning texting while driving. Illinois’ law was enacted in January of 2010.