Although teenagers are the most common target for anti-texting and driving PSAs, an analysis of infractions in Washington state shows the problem is hardly confined to the youngest age bracket.
The Washington State Patrol reviewed the 2,261 traffic stops where officers issued tickets or warnings for texting while driving and found that more than half of violators were over the age of 30. The youngest stop was 16, while the oldest was an 81-year-old.
Perhaps more troubling is the fact that this unsafe practice is on the rise. The Washington State Patrol issued 1075 tickets through July of this year – more than they did through same period last year and on track to exceed the total number of citations issued.
A study by the Texas A&M Transportation institute found that drivers take twice as long to respond compared to those who are paying attention to the road, making them more likely to miss light changes, run stop signs, and overlook potential road hazards. It also showed that texting causes a significant increase in erratic driving behavior like lane drifting.
Washington was one of the first states to ban texting while driving in 2008. In 2010 the penalties were increased and made a primary, rather than secondary, offense.