The federal government is putting pressure on states across the county to end what they call an epidemic on the roads. The U.S. Department of Transportation released a 'Blueprint for Distracted Driving' on Thursday. From Phoenix, KJZZ's Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez reports.

NADINE ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are among the 11 states without laws against texting while driving. These are the states the Blueprint for ending Distracted Driving is aimed at. The plan calls for the states to pass more laws and create new driver education curriculum addressing the issue. The plan also aims at lobbying the auto industry to create new technology to reduce the potential for distraction on devices built in vehicles. Michele Donati is with Arizona AAA.

MICHELE DONATI: Research show that you are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or narrowly avoid one if you are engaging in texting while driving. So, as an organization the Blueprint, including the recommendation for the 11 states to enact a law that bans this behavior is something AAA whole heartedly supports.

ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: Donati points out Arizona and Texas have some municipalities that ban texting while driving, but she says, the ban must be state-wide in order to truly curb the problem.