After a more robust law went into effect enabling law enforcement officers to pull over texting drivers last year, the Iowa State Patrol has not wasted any time issuing citations. In fact, officers have issued 6 times more citations for texting while driving in the past year, with over 1,000 citations issued.
Prior to the passage of the new law, texting while driving was a secondary offense that limited law enforcement efforts to stop distracted drivers. The new texting and driving law makes texting while driving a primary offense, which allows officers to stop drivers when they see it happening.
Every day and night troopers are on the lookout for drivers who are texting while driving. They take the violations very seriously because texting not only puts drivers at risk but also their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
The CDC says thousands of people are injured every day at the hands of a distracted driver, with some accidents resulting in fatalities. Unfortunately, teens run a much greater risk of being involved in a texting while driving accident simply because they don’t understand just how risky texting while driving can be.
Traffic fatalities reached a four-year high in 2016 in the state of Iowa with many attributing part of the increase to distracted drivers. Hopefully with more citations being issued across the state drivers will be less inclined to text while driving making the roads safer for everyone.
Injured By A Driver Texting While Driving?
Contact an Experienced Team of Iowa Distracted Driving Car Accident Lawyers For Help
If you or a family member has been injured in a Quad-Cities texting while driving car accident, contact the Iowa and Illinois personal injury Law Offices of McDonald, Woodward & Carlson PC in Davenport for immediate assistance at 563-355-6478.