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With new bills coming up in Kansas, New Jersey, South Carolina and other states, lawmakers around the U.S. are tackling the problem of drivers who distract themselves with phones and text messaging. "People are starting to see it like drunk driving, and that's the comparison we need to continue to make," said Steve Farley, an Arizona state representative who has fought three years to ban texting while driving.  

If you don't want to get into a fine mess — and a hefty fine, at that — put that cell phone down while driving. Tempted to text while on the road? Starting today, you could be slapped with a ticket that rivals your cell phone bill. A new state law in Illinois bans texting, e-mailing, instant messaging or browsing the Internet while driving.  

CLEVELAND, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Text messaging while driving is outlawed in 14 states for all drivers, in 10 additional states for new drivers and in one additional state for bus drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association®. Still, accidents are reported every day that involve driver distraction due to cell phone use. These accidents can result in injuries, car damage and car insurance rate hikes between 10-50 percent.  

While many cell phone plans include free text messaging, starting Jan. 1, certain text messages — those typed and sent while driving — will cost $100. On Friday, a new law goes into effect that bans typing text messages while driving in New ...  

A new study released this week shows that text-messaging drivers are six times more likely to get into an accident than drivers who do not text, Reuters reported.The study used simulator vehicles and identical traffic scenarios to show that the risk of texting behind the wheel appeared to be significantly higher than talking on a cell phone while driving.Researcher Frank Drews of the University of Utah explained that when people talk on the...  

FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order Wednesday to prohibit state employees from text messaging when driving government-owned vehicles. He said agency heads may exempt from the order state workers who use text messaging for law enforcement, security or emergencies. Beshear's order was filed with Secretary of State Trey Grayson. The governor has scheduled a news conference to discuss it. The order says texting means...  

Text messaging while driving is outlawed in 14 states for all drivers, in 10 additional states for new drivers and in one additional state for bus drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.