Indeed, in the nearly five years since California's texting-while-driving ban went into effect, texting while behind the wheel has increased a disturbing 126 percent, according to the AAA survey. However, given this large spike in texting, it is quite surprising to learn that the AAA reports that only 30,000 of the 790,000 cellphone-related citations issued - or less than 4 percent - have involved texting while driving during the same period.

Sadly, these numbers are further proof that the current texting-while driving prohibitions are not keeping California motorists' eyes on the road and off their cellphones - thus increasing the risk of texting-while-driving car accidents on California roadways.

Dangers of texting while driving

There is little to dispute the notion that texting while driving is a dangerous distraction. In fact, according to numbers reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a driver takes his or her eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds, on average, to send or receive a text. This means that the driver's vehicle will travel blindly the length of a football field if going 55 mph - a significant distraction by almost any measure.

However, the level of distraction created by texting while driving is only outdone by its pervasiveness on our nation's roadways. For instance, not only is texting while driving up 126 percent in California, but a NHTSA press release from earlier this year indicated that an astonishing 660,000 drivers are using electronic devices at any given daylight moment instead of paying attention to the road.

Lawmakers in California did attempt to curb this hazardous habit when they passed California's current texting-while-driving ban, although it appears to have had little impact. Specifically, California's prohibition on texting while driving states that no motorist is permitted to "write, send, or read a text-based communication" while driving a motor vehicle, unless the cellphone is being used "hands free" to dictate or listen to the text message.

Unfortunately, if the recent surveys are any indication, drivers distracted by their cellphones will likely continue to cause car accidents. Consequently, if you or a loved one has been injured by one of these careless drivers, it is important to note that remedies may be available to compensate you for your injuries, which is why it is often best to seek the counsel of an experienced distracted driving accident attorney. A skilled attorney can provide helpful advice as to your options and assist in ensuring your rights are protected.

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