A recent study shows that Salt Lake City is tied for second place for the number of text messages sent. Salt Lake tied with Dallas and Memphis for high texting rates. The “winner” overall was El Paso, TX. According to a story in KSL.com, the research firm Scarborough Research found that more than half of Salt Lake residents use their phone for text messaging and that the bulk of those texting are younger. Only 7 percent of Salt Lake’s cell phone users access the internet with their phones.
People commenting on this article wrote about the obvious: that high texting rates can lead to high distraction rate for Salt Lake drivers who text while driving, thereby leading to car accidents. Currently, there is no law in Utah, or Salt Lake City for that matter, that forbids texting while driving. While Utah Code Annotated 41-6a-1715 prohibits “careless driving,” a person will only be guilty of this ordinance if they first commit a moving violation in conjunction with using their cell phone or texting device. In other words, the law says you can text all you want while driving, you just can’t cause a car accident while doing so. This is a little backward, in my opinion.
While assorted Utah cities have laws that require cell phone users to use a hands-free device when talking on their phone, no city has enacted any law that bans text messaging while driving. Other progressive states, such as California, recently enacted such a law. Effective January 1, 2009, the California law prohibits drivers from reading, writing or sending text messages while operating a motor vehicle. First-time offenders in California will face a $20 fine with subsequent fines going up to $50. Gov. Schwarzenegger, in signing the law, said in a statement: “Banning electronic text messaging while driving will keep drivers’ hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, making our roadways a safer place for all Californians.”
Ron Kramer is a Utah personal injury lawyer who primarily represents those injured in car accidents due to the carelessness of others, including those who cause accidents while text messaging or using their cell phones. He can be reached at 801-553-8838.
Published by: Ron Kramer
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