Tennessee's new law that bans texting while driving may or may not be having the desired effect that lawmakers want. Two UT students give their views on the law, and while one student admits to breaking this law, both realize that texting while driving is hazardous.

Rhonda Williams, senior in animal science, admitted to texting while driving on a daily basis, even though she knows it is extremely dangerous.

"I do it maybe two times a day before I go to class and after I get off work," she said.

However, Williams is not alone. According to a study conducted by AAA and Seventeen magazine, 61 percent of teenagers admit to risky driving habits. Of these teens, 46 percent said they text while driving.    

Williams said she often sends text messages while waiting at stoplights, especially when she is the only one in the car. 

"When I am alone, I do tend to text more," Williams said. "I try not to do it unless I absolutely have to. If I have a passenger, I do not text."

I think it's dumb to text while driving because it's too distracting and dangerous. Anthony DeMaio, freshman in philosophy

Williams also acknowledged that texting has caused her to drive recklessly on a few occasions. 

"Once when I was on the expressway texting, I noticed I was swerving in another lane," she said. 

Williams said she agrees with the new Tennessee law that bans texting, but does not understand its effectiveness.

"I don't think [the new law] will make much of a difference," Williams said. "But I have a friend who actually got a ticket for texting [while driving]."

Anthony DeMaio, freshman in philosophy, said he does not text while driving because it is diverts the driver's attention from the road.

"I think it's dumb to text while driving because it's too distracting and dangerous," he said.

Recent studies from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) revealed that both light vehicle drivers and truck drivers who "manually manipulate phones" by dialing and texting lead to a "substantial increase in the risk of being involved in a safety-critical event."

The VTTI also found that the risk of being involved in a crash while dialing a cell phone is 2.8 times as high as a non-distracted driver.

DeMaio said some of his friends text while they are driving, and this makes him feel uneasy.

"I do not feel as safe when I am in the car while they are texting," he said.

DeMaio said although the new Tennessee law has no affect on him personally, it has changed the views of others.

"The new law has turned [texting while driving] from a bad idea into an illegal act," DeMaio said.

He also said that although materials such as public service announcements are effective, they only work in the short-run. 

"As soon as people stop being afraid of [the public service announcements], they quit working because [people] become desensitized," DeMaio said.

Instead, he suggested that law enforcement officers be more alert so that those who text while driving will receive the appropriate consequences for their actions.

"They need to make it so that police are more aware of these habits," he said. "Then they will be better at catching people who are doing this."