Texting and Driving News

Study: Texting Bans Don’t Reduce Crashes

It’s illegal to text while driving in most U.S. states yet a new study finds such bans do not reduce car accidents and may actually increase insurance claims. Researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) found no reductions in …

Survey: Texting While Driving in Texas Getting Worse

Texans believe texting and talking on phones while driving is getting worse and that roads are less safe than they were five years ago, despite declines in accident deaths. A survey by the Texas Transportation Institute found that 52 percent …

Study: Arkansas Ranks High in Road Safety Improvements

A national study indicates Arkansas ranks second nationally in advancing its road safety laws during the past two years. The national scorecard produced by the Emergency Nurses Association noted Arkansas has passed laws requiring a tougher graduated driver’s license for …

Louisiana DWI Simulator Adds Texting while Driving

She took off the virtual reality headset, got out of the car and looked at her printed-out ticket for running a red light and killing a pedestrian while sending a cell phone text message. “I got a ticket for speeding, …

30 States Ban Texting As Researchers Question Effectiveness

A ban on texting behind the wheel went into effect Thursday in Massachusetts, one of 30 states that have taken action to rein in distracted drivers despite debate over the effectiveness of such laws. The anti-texting measures go beyond laws …

New Orleans Judge Handling BP Oil Cases a ‘Straight Shooter’

The judge overseeing hundreds of lawsuits spurred by BP Plc’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill brought his much-noted calm, easy manner to the first major hearing in what could be one of the most complex and costly court fights in …

GM Revamping OnStar Safety System to Improve Voice Recognition

General Motors Co. says it is revamping the computer system that runs its OnStar safety system, giving it better voice recognition so drivers can use verbal commands to safely stay connected to the Internet. It’s also branding much of its …

Judge Orders Calif. Metrolink Liability Fund Deposited

A federal judge has ordered Southern California’s Metrolink system and Connex Railroad to deposit $200 million to compensate victims of a 2008 commuter train disaster, but has yet to decide whether to approve the settlement. Judge George H. Wu ordered …

Lawmaker Questions Liability Cap on Train Crash

A Southern California congressman whose district includes dozens of commuter train passengers involved in a catastrophic collision wants to challenge a federal law that sets a $200 million limit on damage payouts to train crash victims. Last week, the Metrolink …

Virginia Residents Worry About ‘High Hazard’ Dam

The people who live in the homes and cabins along the Maury River in Rockbridge County are fairly certain of this: If the nearby Goshen Dam ever breaks, the massive wall of water and rock that will wash through their …