Lawmakers in Missouri have started to file bills for the upcoming 2010 legislative session that is set to begin come January 6. According to reports, bills will focus on imposing a ban on all drivers from sending text messages while they are behind the wheel. State legislators believe that it is about time for them to do something regarding this growing concern on mobile communications, driving, and the number of road accidents in Missouri.

Last year, lawmakers from Missouri successfully imposed a ban on young drivers regarding their cell phone usage. 2008 saw drivers 21 years old and below being barred from sending text messages while on the road. Now, lawmakers are after older drivers. According to industry insiders, the state’s reaction regarding cell phone usage is quite effective, especially since instead of doing an all out ban, lawmakers focused on one particular age group at a time. Insurance analysts predict that by 2011, collisions and road accidents related to cell phone usage will decline significantly and can even be eliminated. Those who support the bills that will widen the scope of Missouri’s texting limitations strongly believe that texting while driving is very risky and hazardous that no driver should even think of doing it.

Alternatively, one of the largest cities in Northwestern Pennsylvania also has major plans regarding texting and calling restrictions for drivers. Last week, Erie City Council scheduled a public hearing that would discuss a potential ban on texting while driving and vote on a preliminary approval of the planned ordinance.

Reports say that Pennsylvania’s said ordinance included bans on calling and sending e-mails and text messages using cell phones by any person who is inside a moving vehicle. Even those who are riding a bike in the city will be included in this ban. Those who are caught violating planned provisions will be charged with a fine that ranges from $150 to $300. Experts agree with the state getting strict as motorists who are distracted by their communications gadgets have gained notoriety in the past year for causing serious accidents.

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According to industry experts, almost all US drivers own a mobile phone, and all of them are prone to making and answering a call or sending and reading text messages while behind the wheel. Loosing focus because of being caught in an important call or being preoccupied reading long messages can be good enough reason for being involved in a collision. A study conducted a major insurance consultancy firm showed that majority of their respondents were professionals aged 30 to 50 and all of them use their mobile phones while driving. The result of the study showed that the respondents are willing to answer a call or immediately respond to an email or a text messages even if they are driving as they would not want to be reprimanded for not doing so, if the call or message is from their boss or a client.

With these in mind, local groups are worried that if the trends on mobile phone usage while driving does not improve, situations may be worse and may eventually show its effect on the number of car accidents. In Florida and New York, 7% of collisions were caused by drivers distracted while talking on their cellular phones. The rates for Pennsylvania are relatively lower at 5%.

An Insurance Information Institute representative said in a recent interview that they are targeting to release a mass promotional campaign on the fatal effects of motorists getting busy on cellular phones while driving. The organization estimates that the number of accidents resulting from mobile phone usage can go up during the holiday season. As Christmas gets near, people will be busy contacting family members and loved ones. Industry experts say that when a driver on the road received a call from a relative he hasn’t seen in years, the sudden rush of excitement can take over and there is a tendency for the driver to momentarily forget that he is currently driving. In that split-second that he forgets he’s on the road, a collision may have already taken place.

In addition to preventing cell phone use, there is strong support from the organization to fight motorists who hide traffic offences such as exceeding the speed limit in an effort to get cheaper insurance.

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