The Illinois Senate Transportation Committee approved legislation strengthening Illinois' law on distracted driving. The new legislation goes after drivers who are still texting behind the wheel by classifying first-time offenses as "moving" violations.The penalty will be recorded directly to the motorist's driving record with fines and court costs involved as well. Any driver with three moving violations is subject to a driver's license suspension. Originally the law stated that the second texting and driving violation became a moving violation and first time violators were considered as non-moving violations.

Texting and driving is considered one of the most deadly forms of distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), texting and driving is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. The NHTSA says at least 25% of accidents involve someone who is texting at the time of the crash.

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