Distracted driving is a problem for everyone. According to the National Safety Council, there are approximately 1.6 million people involved in a car accident each year that was caused by cellphone use. That number includes drivers of all ages despite teens being most often blamed for frequently participating in the behavior.

A driver of any age can become distracted when they look down to send a quick text or are more focused on a phone conversation than the road ahead. That is probably why Missouri legislators are considering increasing the distracted driving ban currently enforced on novice drivers to more experienced drivers.

The current law in Missouri prohibits texting while driving for anyone 21 years of age or younger. This age restriction was created to capture teen drivers and very novice drivers who choose to use their cellphone while behind the wheel.

There are currently seven different bills before Missouri legislators for the 2012 year that touch on the subject of distracted driving. The different bills propose a texting ban for every single driver and one even proposes a ban on any cellphone use without a hands free device. The new legislation could create a class C misdemeanor charge for anyone caught violating the ban. The proposed legislation would also create a class A misdemeanor charge for anyone who causes a minor accident due to use of a cellphone.

A driver who causes a car accident that results in injury because they were texting and driving can already be held liable in civil court for the damages that they caused -- regardless of what the current criminal penalties are.

Source: The Prowl, "Missouri moves to ban cell phone use while driving," Loren Debold, Feb. 15, 2012