Wyoming is the 20th state to enact a statewide ban prohibiting drivers from texting while behind-the-wheel.

Beginning July 1, the new ban will allow Wyoming law enforcement officials to ticket anyone caught texting while driving in the state.

"Wyoming has taken an important step to eliminate distracted driving," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Texting while driving, like talking on cell phones while driving, is dangerous to the driver doing it and all of those around them."

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, nearly 6,000 people died and more than half a million were injured in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver.

In 2009, more than 200 distracted driving bills were considered by state legislatures and legislative activity is expected to remain strong this year, according to the DOT.

The DOT has unveiled sample legislation developed by NHTSA to be used as a starting point for writing new state laws to prohibit texting while driving.

The U.S Department of Transportation Jan. 26 announced it is immediately prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while operating commercial vehicles.

Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. The DOT action doesn't prohibit the use of cell phones for purposes other than text messaging.

Twenty states and the District of Columbia already prohibit all drivers from texting behind the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Another 10 states restrict texting by novice drivers.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.

The prohibition is the latest in a series of actions taken by DOT to combat distracted driving since DOT Secretary Ray LaHood convened a national summit on the issue last September.

"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," LaHood said. "This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.

President Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on Dec. 30.