Abramson, Brown & Dugan Attorneys

As of January 1, 2010, text messaging while driving will be illegal in New Hampshire. Governor John Lynch has signed legislation that will impose a $100 fine for drivers who are caught texting while driving on New Hampshire roads. Similar legislation was defeated last year. However, a Boston MBTA accident earlier this year may have influenced the NH legislators. In that accident, the subway driver was texting his girlfriend just prior to the subway crash. Fifteen states have banned or will ban texting while driving. Recent studies have concluded that the practice is as dangerous as drunken driving. A study issued last week noted that texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than those who are not so distracted. The legislation has some weak points. It exempted the act of placing a phone call and did not address the problem of talking on a cell phone while driving. Some states have instituted bans on any cell phone use that is not hands free.