States with primary laws banning texting while driving have shown a reduction in traffic deaths as opposed to those states with secondary laws or no texting law at all according to a study published by the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. States with secondary anti-texting laws showed no significant reduction in traffic deaths. Deaths among the 15 to 21 year old age group were reduced by 11 percent.
Primary enforcement means that a law enforcement officer can stop and cite a driver just for texting while driving. A secondary law means that an officer must stop a motorist for another offense such as speeding or running a red light before adding the additional infraction of texting while driving. Read more: Primary Texting Bans Associated with Lower Traffic Fatalities, Study Finds