Following a series of fatal accidents where texting was found to be a factor, Pennsylvania introduced its texting while driving law in April of 2012. Under the law, texting while driving is a primary offense, meaning, if police witness a driver using their phone to send a text message they can pull them over for that reason alone.
Note that simply holding a phone while driving is not an offense in Pennsylvania. Encouraged by the successful reduction of fatal accidents since the law was introduced, stricter laws are being requested that would ban all mobile devices while driving.
Campaigners seek a total ban on phones while driving
For many young people, who oftentimes seem physically attached to their phones, the texting ban does not go far enough. One group lobbying for a stronger ban, Students Against Distracted Decisions, host events in schools, including mock crashes, to alert other students about the consequences of distracted driving. They also encourage fellow pupils to remind their parents and friends not to text while they are in the car.
Support for the law does not equal compliance
More than half of the country is now subject to state laws banning texting while driving. Despite these laws, distracted driving still causes many fatal accidents each year. This may be due to the attitude of some drivers ― while most teenagers acknowledge that texting while driving is dangerous, nearly half of the 1,200 students surveyed recently by AT&T admitted that they still send texts, hoping that they won’t be caught. More than half claim that they have seen their parents texting while driving.
At Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald LLP, our attorneys have advised clients injured in crashes and the families of those killed in fatal accidents. From our offices in Hazelton and Wilkes-Barr we help recover compensation for the victims of road accidents. Contact us for a free initial consultation.