At this point, we've all heard tell of the many dangers of using smartphones while driving. And we've all probably also ignored those dangers at one point or another, which has led 47 states to establish bans on what's now become the leading cause of death for teenage drivers—texting. So how much will you be coughing…

In Belgium, a non-profit organization called Responsible Young Drivers told people taking their driving test that they had to prove themselves "able to use a mobile phone while driving" as part of their driving test, which meant they had to avoid an obstacle while texting and driving at the same time. As you can…

Celebrities use Twitter. Politicians use Twitter. And sometimes those two worlds hilariously collide. Observe: Snooki tweets about being stuck in traffic in Newark; the mayor of Newark immediately threatens to fine her for texting while driving. LOL. [Twitter]

Aha! It looks like State Farm's app isn't the only app that helps keep you from texting while driving—there's SMS Replier too. And this app will know when you're driving.

There have been anti-texting-while-driving apps already, but State Farm's On the Move app actually tries to eliminate your urge to text back—by texting back for you.

It's deadly. It's irresponsible. And we've all done it. Before you commute home think about this: Why isn't there a better solution to texting while driving?

Forget the grisly effects of texting while driving for a moment, if you can. Instead, focus on a new epidemic, one that's admittedly much sillier than the driving one, but no less dangerous. Ladies and gents, meet texting while walking:

I didn't think 97 percent of Americans were in agreement about anything, but apparently they are about texting while driving: They think it should be illegal. A mere 3 percent don't care, or didn't answer cause they were busy texting.

An executive order from President Obama bans all government employees—including soldiers and postal workers—from texting while driving if they're working, driving one of Uncle Sam's cars or using one of his cellphones. Meaning we're all next. [Ars]

Utah's getting harsh on texting while driving, but it looks like Florida may be among the first states to issue some serious punishment: A 17 year old man is facing a second degree felony and seven first-degree misdemeanor charges.

The Senate may be trying to pass a federal ban on texting while driving, but Utah recently passed a much stronger bill: It views the act is inherently reckless and punishes it as harshly as drunk driving.

Holy shit. The initial accident is bad enough, but the creators of this texting PSA, not content with the usual scare tactics, add in some flying glass and a neck crunch to hammer things home. Then the second car appears.

Though 14 states have already banned text messaging while driving, the Senate introduced a bill today that would essentially force the remaining states to pass a similar bill—despite there being no good way to enforce such a ban.

Man, people really laid into me for texting while driving as a part of reviewing the N97. It's unsafe, no doubt, but the reality is, people do it. Do you?

It's pretty redundant to make laws outlawing texting while driving because it already falls under laws covering distracted driving, but holy crap, something needs to be done about it.

California is joining seven other states and Washington DC by imposing a full-on ban of text messaging while driving. The bill signed by the Governator himself imposes a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenders starting next year. Kind of a slap on the wrist if you ask me—but that is more than 43…