Texting Drivers Have More to Worry About Than Cost of their Car Insurance Quote

For drivers who cause an accident because of texting while driving, the price of their next car insurance quote will be among the least of their worries. This is especially true in light of a law that was recently passed in Utah.

An article in the New York Times recently highlighted a new Utah law that imposes prison sentences of up to 15 years on people who cause a fatal accident while texting. The law was initiated after a 2006 crash that killed two rocket engineers who were on their way to work.

The idea behind the law is that drivers who choose to send text messages should be treated the same as those who kill somebody while drunk driving, since both activities are willful failures to adhere to proper safety procedures.

The Times noted that ways to proceed on this issue will be a key topic at a conference this fall organized by the Department of Transportation.

Regardless of whether other states follow Utah's lead in cracking down on the dangers of texting while driving, people who choose to do so risk the safety of themselves and others. Causing an accident is also often a guarantee of a much higher car insurance quote in the future.