Bob

Yeah, texting is banned in MA, but I don't think they've issued any tickets or very many at least. The problem has been catching people doing it, usually they've the phone under the steering wheel, or even if they were seen, cops aren't able to check when messages were sent so not able to issue tickets.

It's all a bit daft, but well meaning bit of legislation.

The real issue is improving the standards required to get a license, but that's not going to happen, to much money in it having shit drivers on the road.

RoadWarriorFromLP

Anti-texting laws are necessary in that the behavior isn't acceptable, but the laws by themselves won't be effective. A better, albeit imperfect solution, would be to create some sort of social stigma against it. These things ultimately don't work without a high level of voluntary compliance.

Not really. There is no correlation between technical driving skills and accident rates, because most accidents are caused by bad behavior, not by deficient skills. It isn't a lack of talent that leads to some drivers to drive while intoxicated, tailgate, drive too fast for conditions, or cut each other off.

The US could reduce fatality rates to some extent by raising the driving age and creating a provisional licensing system for younger drivers (similar to the L plate system used in the UK.) But I doubt that this will happen anytime soon.