Texting Drivers Elude Police, But Not Accidents

Eight months after Illinois enacted a statewide ban on texting while driving, police across the state report limited results from the program. The law forbids drivers from reading, composing or sending electronic messages.However, enforcing this law has proven difficult. Drivers often keep their phones out of sight, or put them away when in the vicinity of police officers.Some communities have set up targeted undercover operations or found other successfully means of enforcement. In Buffalo Grove, an officer stood at an intersection with a donation can. He wasn't really looking for change — he was looking for drivers violating the texting laws.In Evanston, law enforcement officers have engaged in a targeted campaign to eliminate texting while driving, with noticeable effects. Orland Park alone is responsible for nearly 40 percent of the traffic citations issued throughout the state this year for this offense.In other communities though, the legislation has barely had any impact. For example, the Chicago Tribune reports that since the law took effect in January, Wheaton has only issued four citations and two warnings.This is unfortunate. Beyond the fact that texting while driving is now against the law, it is incredibly dangerous. Those who choose to send messages while driving are risking much more than a $75 fine. They are putting themselves and others on the road at risk of accidentand serious injury.A study released last year by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that those who are texting while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in collisions than those who are not. The risks are extraordinary, and simply cannot be justified by the convenience of multitasking.For anyone who has been injured as the result of someone else’s decision to send or read a message while driving, there is some recourse. Police may be having difficulty determining when people are texting, but the phone companies have no such troubles.  Working with an attorney, you can gain access to the phone records of the other driver to determine whether that person was driving while sending messages or otherwise distracted by a phone. If you have been injured in a car accident, speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney today. He can help you protect your interests and understand your options.