Insurers Commend Gov. Abbott for Signing Texting While Driving Ban in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas, June 6 -- The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America issued the following statement by Joe Woods, vice president, state government relations commending Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas for signing House Bill 62, and thanking state Sen. Judith Zaffirini and state Rep. Tom Craddick for their years of work on this legislation which prohibits the use of texting while driving in Texas.

"Insurers believe this bill will save lives on Texas roads. By making texting while driving a primary offense, law enforcement can pull over drivers who are seen using their devices while driving. This law will now hold people accountable for their actions and hopefully prevent more fatal crashes.

"The distracted driving epidemic must be addressed. Auto accidents have increased 14 percent over the past two years--the biggest increase in over half a century. Last year, 4.6 million people were significantly injured on the roads, a 31 percent increase over the last seven years and a 12 percent increase since 2014.

"Safety is the first concern, but the increase in accidents also could impact consumers' insurance costs. The recent spike in the number of auto accidents resulting from distracted driving comes at a time when repair, labor, medical and other costs associated with accidents are also rising. We need to change driver behavior, and we believe that toughening the distracted driving laws will save lives by encouraging people to think twice about picking up the phone while driving."

Forty three states and the District of Columbia will have primary enforcement of texting bans, leaving only Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota with either secondary enforcement or no texting law.

Click here to learn about the new distracted driving laws approved and enacted in 2017.

PCI promotes and protects the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers and insurers. PCI is composed of nearly 1,000 member companies, representing the broadest cross section of insurers of any national trade association. PCI members write $202 billion in annual premium, 35 percent of the nation's property casualty insurance. Member companies write 42 percent of the U.S. automobile insurance market, 27 percent of the homeowners market, 33 percent of the commercial property and liability market and 34 percent of the private workers compensation market.