Study says texting laws not working

A new study from the insurance industry finds texting-while-driving laws have had no immediate benefit in reducing crashes.

The study done by a branch of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety looked at crash data from four states with texting bans. It found that in three of the states — California, Louisiana and Minnesota — crashes actually increased.

Institute spokesman Russ Rader said the increase might be the result of drivers moving their phones down, out of public view, while they text, thus looking away from the road longer.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood criticized the report as misleading.

He said the bans are important in helping stop deaths from distracted driving, but states must enforce them and people must obey them.