Missouri Town Proposes Texting and Driving Ban To Reduce Car Accidents

December 17, 2013
Distracted drivers are becoming a growing hazard on highways across the United States. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that in 2011, a total of 3,328 motorists were killed and another 387,000 were injured as a result of accidents associated with distracted driving they were involved in. The following year, those numbers swelled to 3,360 fatalities and 421,000 injuries.

The St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers explain that one Missouri town is doing its part to reduce these accident numbers by banning the act of texting and driving within its borders. Reports indicate the town of Manchester, Missouri, voted on the measure last night.

According to an article from CBS-St. Louis News, current state law only prohibits drivers who are under the age of 20-years-old from using a handheld electronic device while behind the wheel of a vehicle. The town of Manchester’s new ordinance would not only outlaw texting and driving, but also emailing, instant messaging, or surfing the web by any driver.
Manchester Police Chief, Tim Walsh, says he hopes the measures will get people to be more aware of the road, and therefore, reduce accident numbers.

The St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyers with Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers recognize how dangerous distracted driving can be to all who are on the road and applaud the efforts being made to prevent the behavior from occurring.