Despite several nationwide campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, a new survey by the Automobile Club of Southern California says that it has not kept drivers from doing it. The rates of texting while driving dropped off after the ban began in January 2009, but have since risen to nearly pre-ban levels.

Although the California Highway Patrol has issued about 11,600 hand-held cellphone citations each month over the last year, it has issued an average of only 150 citations per month for texting. Catching drivers who are texting is tricky since drivers who are texting often keep their phones hidden in their laps.

The fact that we’re seeing a statistically significant rise in texting despite state bans indicates that additional efforts are needed to help deal with the problem. People are naive to believe that texting while driving does not affect their driving and should take driving seriously if not for their safety, at least for the safety of everyone else on the road.