A group of friends are driving around town and the driver receives a text. The driver decides to respond to the message, turns into the other lane and hits an oncoming car. Over the past seven years, the number of teens texting while driving has increased. Researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park estimated 3,000 annual teen deaths nationwide due to texting and 300,000 injuries (Ricks). This is more than the number of teenagers who drink and drive. By comparison, 2,700 teenagers die from driving and drinking. Due to texting and driving, there has been an increase in teen traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths. First of all, road accidents have increased. It is illegal to text while driving in most US states. Yet a new study by researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) finds no reduction in crashes after laws banning texting by all drivers went into effect (Russ). On August 1, 2008 the law went into effect, there were more accidents than before the law went into effect in Minnesota. The risk of an accident or near miss among young drivers increased more than seven times if they were dialing or picking up a cell phone and four times if they were sending or receiving a text message. The risk also increased if they picked up something other than their phone, looked at an object along the way, or ate food. Among older drivers, just dialing a cell phone number increased the chances of an accident or near miss. However, the study began before texting became as common, so researchers don't know whether it's as dangerous for them as it is. it is for teenagers. Collision claims in Minnesota per 100 years of insured vehicle, by month before and after the texting law for all drivers, compared to Iowa and Wisconsin (Russ). A month before the law took effect, Minnesota collected traffic crash data that…half of the sheet of paper…or texting, driving, and distracted driving. Work Cited F, Alan. “Texting while driving is now the leading cause of death among teens in the United States” Phonearena.(2011): Phonearena. Network. May 2, 2014.Madison, Mary. “Teens and distracted driving” PewResheach. (2009): PewResheach. Web.1 May 2014Panish, Shea. “Car accident of distracted driving teenager”. Panish Shea and Boyle. (2012): Panish Shea and Boyle. Network. May 1, 2014.Ricks, Delthis. “Study: Texting and driving while driving is now the leading cause of death for teen drivers.” (2013): News Day. Network. May 1, 2014.Rader, Russ. “Texting bans don't reduce accidents; the effects are slight increases in crashes” Highway Loss Data Institute.(2010): Highway Loss Data Institute. Network. May 1, 2014.Wyatt, Vince. “Texting while driving in Tennessee could get you in trouble” HR&W. (2013): HR&W. Network. May 4th 2014.