Incidences of texting while driving doubles from before state ban, reversing early trend

LOS ANGELES –Texting behind the wheel appears to be about double where it was before California’s texting ban was implemented, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s latest roadside survey of drivers.

Some 19 months after the texting ban went into effect, the level of texting and use of other devices such as smart phones has jumped to 2.7 percent of drivers at any time – about double where it was before California’s ban went into effect in January 2009.

However, the level of hand-held cell phone use on the road at seven locations in Southern California has held c...