The Cost of Texting and Driving

Texting while driving is the leading cause of death among teenage drivers, which is why 46 states have banned texting while driving and have imposed penalties on drivers who break the law. In California, the maximum penalty for a first-time offender is $20, which may not be so much of a deterrent for drivers there. In Alaska, the penalty is $10,000 plus a year in prison, which, wow, yes — sounds like a major incentive not to text and drive. Mother Jones has a state-by-state list of fines and other data for texting and driving.

I mostly only drive when I’m visiting from out of state, and when I’m on the road, I usually have my phone off to avoid getting distracted by texts or phone calls. When I’ve had to look up directions, or make a call, I’ve always pulled over. For me, it’s less about getting a fine, and more about not dying.

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