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Texting Drivers Pulled Over More In 2015

vsofa.org

State data shows more people were stopped for texting, emailing or checking Facebook on their cellphones while behind the wheel on Utah’s highways. The data comes from a six-month snapshot of 2015.

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, the number of stops grew by 13 percent. That’s the second increase since the state expanded the law in May 2014 to include any kind of phone use behind the wheel except for talking or getting directions.

Troopers pulled over 780 people between May and October of 2015, up from 692 during the same period last year. Most of those pulled over were let off with a warning.

According to University of Utah professor David Strayer using a cellphone behind the wheel is more dangerous than drinking and driving.

He also says that hands-free devices can be just as unsafe.

“To talk on a cell phone that pushes you to moderate level of risk,” Strayer said. “And all the new features that allow you to interact with social media, the simply don’t belong behind the wheel of a car. Even if your car allows you to do it—and many of them do—it’s not safe to do it.”

Studies show that pulling people over helps curb the habit of cellphone use while driving.