Texting, driving

The Missouri Legislature, in this year's session, took a first step to address the dangers created by motorists who text while driving. A law was adopted that prohibits anyone 21 years old or younger from texting while driving. Several bills have been prefiled for next year's legislative session that would extend the ban to all motorists.

U.S. Department of Transportation statistics show that 6,000 individuals died last year in vehicular accidents linked to distracted motorists. And half a million more were injured. Many states have already banned texting while driving, and by the end of next year about half the states are expected to have such bans in place.

Many motorists say they can safely text and drive at the same time, and they oppose the ban. Other motorists say they worry about any driver whose inattention could involve them in serious accidents.

Laws requiring driver's licenses, liability insurance, seat belts, child-safety seats, turning on headlights during rainstorms and safety inspections can be viewed as too much government regulation by some. But for many motorists these legislated requirements are regarded as necessary guardrails that have been statistically shown to improve highway safety.