Arizona Becomes 48th State To Prohibit Cell Phone Use While Driving

Every year, more than 170 billion cell phone texts are sent and received. Each year, an average of 3,000 people die and 450,000 are injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers.

Ten percent of all drivers who are 15 to 19 years of age involved in fatal crashes were distracted when the accident occurred. The significant safety problem of operating a cell phone, sending or receiving texts, or manipulating hand-held devices while driving has grown exponentially over the past decade and has reached epidemic proportions.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), at any given moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating cell phones while driving. Lawyers and insurance claims professionals should be familiar with the nuances of these laws in the states in which they conduct business.