Like many areas Pittsburgh faces the challenge of distracted drivers on the road. With the "gotta know it now" culture, texting while driving is especially a problem. It's become such an issue across the country that 39 states have banned texting while driving in an effort to reduce the chance of a motor vehicle accident. Ten states, as well as the District of Columbia, have expanded the ban to include all handheld devices.

Pennsylvania is relatively new to the anti-text law, and although it may look good on the books, actually enforcing the law is somewhat difficult. Since texting is something done discreetly, it can be hard for officers to know for sure when it is happening. Some peer into vehicles and see if they notice more than ten taps which may indicate that someone is texting. Or not. Ten taps could also mean someone is dialing a phone number, and without the offense being connected to another crime or suspicion in an accident, it is very difficult to prove whether a text was sent or not. While tickets are being issued, and paid, some believe this is only happening because the fine is low and the ticket doesn't affect a person's driving record. It's easier to just get it over with.

But texting and other forms of distracted driving is often an accident waiting to happen. The National Highway Safety Administration estimates that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than non-distracted drivers, still about a quarter of drivers admit to texting while driving– whether they live in an area where it is legal or not.

While phones can't be confiscated based on an everyday ticket, when a crime or an accident occurs where there is a personal injury, cell phone records are often used to determine if someone was texting while driving. Some Pennsylvania lawmakers are fighting for legislation to expand the texting ban to include the use of all cell phone use, but it in the meantime, drivers need to try and use good judgment and keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Texting ban for drivers is hard to enforce, police officers say," Amanda Dolasinski, Nov. 13, 2012