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KANSAS CITY, MO. -- A new study finds laws that ban texting while driving don't reduce wrecks and might actually increase risks.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's claim research arm released its findings Tuesday in Kansas City.

The insurance industry group compiled data from California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington immediately before and after driver texting was banned.

The study found that the number of crashes actually increased in three of those states after the bans were implemented.

Louisiana — Collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years,by month before and after texting law for all drivers, compared with Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas (Image Courtesy of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Minnesota — Collision claims per 100 insured vehicle years, by month before and after texting law for all drivers, compared with Iowa and Wisconsin (Image Courtesy of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

The institute's spokesman Russ Rader said the increase might be the result of drivers trying to keep the phones out of view while texting.

You can access the entire report here

Highway officials said that enforcement of the bans is just starting.

Missouri law forbids drivers 21 and younger from sending text messages while driving. Missouri Highway Patrol started its anti-texting campaign mid-September.

The highway patrol said the study released Tuesday is just one study. "While there has been one study that has been conducted," said Lt. Larry Plunkett. "I expect there will be several additional studies coming out int he years to come. In the state of Missouri most of our accidents are related to inattention and speed, and I doubt that anybody can argue that texting while driving won't contribute to inattention."

Schools in mid-Missouri drove the message home by holding assemblies and acting out fake car crashes.

Tell us what you think vote on the poll below and leave a comment: Do you think "texting while driving" bans will stop people from texting while driving in Missouri?