Temple study explores what makes distracted driving laws most effective

States across the country are banning or restricting texting or cell-phone talking while driving, but are the laws effective? If so, which ones work best? To find out, Temple researchers compiled a database of all state distracted-driving laws between 1992 and 2010. Lead author Jennifer Ibrahim says by using the database, researchers can crosscheck legislation and crash statistics to see which laws work. "What we're advocating is that the states look to the evidence that's being generated," she said. "If they are not effective, [states should be] able to go back and use that evidence to modify the law so that it is effective."

WHYY/NewsWorks | June 14, 2011