OK 2 txt & drive? 16 states say sure

It's no secret that texting while driving is risky, with a new Texas Transportation Institute study showing that composing or reading a text message can double a driver's reaction times. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says "drivers have a responsibility to put away these distracting devices every time they get behind the wheel," the Associated Press reported.

But should the decision whether to text behind the wheel be left up to motorists? To date, 34 states have banned texting while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. But 16 still allow it. Which states say yes to a practice that's decidedly dangerous?

Credit: istockphoto