Driving While Texting? Utah Cracks Down, Passes Nation’s Toughest Law

After a crash that killed 2 scientists in 2006, Utah passed a new law that penalizes a driver who causes a fatality while texting, a law that is as harsh as one that punishes a drunken driver who kills someone. The law was passed after a 19 year-old college student crossed over the yellow line  on a two lane highway, killing the scientists,  after he sent and received 11 text messages from his girlfriend within 30 minutes prior to the crash. Studies show that texting while driving is twice as dangerous as driving with a .08 alcohol blood level, generally the standard for drunk driving, or as dangerous as talking on a cell phone while driving. (8/28) NY Times