Texting and driving bans prevent ER visits, study finds

Emergency room visits due to vehicles crashes fell between 2007 and 2014 in states with bans on texting while driving, according to a new study.

Researchers examined emergency department data across 16 U.S. states chosen based on the availability of relevant data.

The findings were published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health.

According to the results, states with texting bans saw a four percent average drop in ER visits after crashes. That's equivalent to more than 1,600 traffic-related emergency department visits per year.

All but three states - Montana, Arizona and Missouri -currently have laws restricting texting while driving.