How texting and driving can cost you money and your safety

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - “Put the phone away or pay” -- that’s long been the message from law enforcement in Kansas as distracted driving continues to be an issue on the roads.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is to blame for 8 percent of deadly crashes. Since 2013, there have been 32,000 deaths in distracted driving cases and those numbers are not going down.

According to MarketWatch, drivers ticketed for texting while driving see an average insurance rate hike of around 21 percent across the country -- one of the highest among traffic violations.

In Kansas, the numbers are even higher. Kansas drivers with a texting-while-driving violation see their minimum coverage soar by an average of 29 percent, adding up to $184 annually. For those with full coverage, the damage can increase by 21 percent, or an extra $504 every year.

Teen drivers are more susceptible to distracted driving, and their insurance rates are much higher than experienced drivers. It can be a costly mistake if those younger drivers decide to text and drive.

David Straughan of MarketWatch urges drivers to think about everyone around them.

“I think it’s really important to keep that into perspective. When you have an alert from Facebook or Instagram popping up on your phone, think about the fact that there’s people that love you and there’s people that love everyone else on the road,” Straughan said. “Maybe just keep the human beings in your car and around your car on your mind when you’re on the highway.”

Texting and driving is illegal in Kansas for any driver, regardless of the type of license they carry. You can expect a $60 fine if you’re caught.