On 1/1/2010 Illinios enacted the ban on texting while driving to help reduce accidents caused by distracted drivers. Violators of the new law can face fines from $75 up to $200 (consider it the new Roaming charges). However across the country other motorist like bus and truck drivers are also being banned from the use of cell phones with much steeper consequences.

 As of yesterday (January 26th) Federal law prohibits commercail bus and truck drivers from texting while driving. Those found breaking the new law may be fined up to as much as $2,700  more than 13x’s more than the fine for those of us driving cars and SUV’s. According to research distracted drivers are 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non distracted drivers. Maybe this will make us all a little safer in the long run.

-Erik