# SMS-Friendly Highway Stops New York Texting Zones Give Distracted Drivers a Safe Place to Go By Michael Hines | Published 2013-09-29 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-york-texting-zones References: [dvice](http://www.dvice.com/2013-9-25/new-york-installs-texting-zones-side-highway) & [businessinsider](http://www.businessinsider.com/texting-zones-new-york-state-governor-cuomo-2013-9) New York texting zones have been launched in an attempt to get drivers off of their phones. A total of 91 such zones have been set up across the Empire State, with signs alerting drivers how far they are from the nearest texting zone. The zones were added onto resting stops that already exist, meaning the state spent little to implement its newest highway safety feature. The signs tell drivers "it can wait" before telling them the distance to the nearest texting stop. Those who choose to ignore the New York texting zones can incur a fine of $150 and five points on their license if caught. New York is taking a revolutionary approach to a relatively new problem, and only time will tell whether the state's rest stops become crammed with texters. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 14% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Texting Zones:** Creating designated areas for texting can help reduce distracted driving and promote safe habits. - **Highway Safety:** Addressing problematic behaviors like texting while driving can improve overall road safety. - **Distracted Driving Solutions:** Implementing measures to combat distracted driving can lead to innovative solutions and technologies. ### Who This Affects Most - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore opportunities to enhance driver safety and promote responsible behaviors on the road. - **Technology:** The technology industry can develop applications and systems that assist drivers in avoiding distractions and staying focused. - **Law Enforcement:** Law enforcement agencies can leverage technologies and strategies to enforce distracted driving laws and enhance road safety enforcement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Safety-Promoting Logistics Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drivewyze-free.md) - [Road Worker Safety Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/active-worksite.md) - [LED Stop Arm Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/school-bus-safety.md) - [Hyper-Fast Charging Stations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/charging-station-1.md) - [Anti-Late Night Texting Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dnt-txt-lockbox.md) - [Delivery Rider Resting Stops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brake-room.md) - [Teen Driving Safety Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goldengauge-program.md) - [Accessible Subway QR Codes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colorful-qr-codes.md) - [Pedestrian-Detecting Crosswalks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-pedestrian-crosswalk.md)