Mobile Tracking and Consulting Services says… Don’t be a victim of this crime….

Texting while driving, also called texting and driving, is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. Texting while driving is considered extremely dangerous by many people, including authorities, and in some places have either been outlawed or restricted.

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Texting while driving is a moving traffic violation and may be a criminal misdemeanor in certain jurisdictions. Studies have shown that texting while driving increases the risk of a vehicle crash by anywhere from 2.8 to 23.2 times than normal. The laws covering texting are aimed more at deterrence (prevention) rather than recovery of losses.

Similar to cell phone use laws, texting while driving laws vary from state to state. Currently, 44 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. Four states prohibit teenage drivers and new drivers from text messaging. Three states do not allow school bus drivers from text messaging.

What Are the Penalties for Texting While Driving?

As mentioned, the laws governing texting while driving vary from state to state. However, punishment for texting while driving generally includes a combination of the following:

1. Monetary fines: these can range from as low as $20 up to $500 depending on the state.
2. Criminal charges: in some states texting while driving can result in criminal misdemeanor charges (Class B or C).
3. Jail or prison time: if the offense has resulted in bodily injury to another driver, jail or prison time may be imposed

LifeSaver for Fleets… Using the phone’s location services technology, the LifeSaver mobile app monitors and logs driver attempts to access the phone while driving, then it scores drivers based on their level of distracted driving behavior. Business owners can use the information to acknowledge current driving behaviors, set expectations for future behavior and improve performance by reinforcing the businesses’ commitment to distraction-free driving.

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