Texting and handheld cell phone bans have been popping up around
the country at a rapid pace. A new study from California shows
that its state laws, coupled with strong enforcement, does make
a difference in saving lives. The California Office of Traffic
Safety announcement (based on analysis by the University of
California, Berkeley) found that deaths related to handheld cell
phone use dropped considerably since the state’s ban was enacted
in July, 2008. Looking at crash records two years before the ban
and two years after, overall traffic deaths dropped by 22
percent and handheld cell phone driver deaths declined 47
percent. These results are compelling in light of the
proliferation of feature-rich smart phones that may encourage
distracted driving. These findings point to a direct correlation
between the law, enforcement, and lives saved. Information from
the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows that
convictions from using a handheld cell phone increased by 22
percent in 2011 from the year before