Distracted Driving in Mississippi
Tuesday, December 9th, 2014
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In 2014, the Center for Mississippi Health Policy developed an Issue Brief that summarized the available evidence related to distracted driving and outlined policy considerations.
KEY FINDINGS
- One out of every twelve motor vehicle crash-related deaths in Mississippi is distraction related.
- Texting drivers are at high risk of experiencing a dangerous traffic event — 23 times the risk of those not driving distracted.
- The estimated medical care cost for moderate to severe crash-related injuries in 2011 in Mississippi was $38.6 million, with high risk distracted driving behaviors contributing to these costs.
- All but two states have some form of ban on texting while driving:
- Forty-four states ban texting for all drivers, and
- Four states, including Mississippi, limit their bans to certain drivers.
- Twelve states prohibit the use of any hand-held mobile phone while driving.
- Mississippi’s current law bans the use of any mobile device for beginning drivers and for bus drivers with young passengers aboard.
- Enforcement is an important consideration, and most states with texting bans have primary enforcement provisions whereby drivers can be cited by law enforcement officers when texting is the only offense.
- Research indicates that texting bans for all drivers coupled with primary enforcement results in a significant reduction in motor vehicle crash deaths.
To download a copy of the Issue Brief click HERE.