Drivers may see Virginia auto insurance rates and roadway safety benefit from new legislation that would help law enforcement officers crack down on distracted driving, CBS affiliate WTOP reports.

According to the source, renewed fervor for stricter laws against texting while driving has arisen largely due to information from the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, indicating Virginia suffered 250 more traffic deaths than Maryland in 2011 due to lax measures against distracted driving.

Delegate Dave Albo of Fairfax is pressing for legislation that would allow police officers to pull over drivers who are not attentive to the road. Albo noted that current laws against texting while driving are limited in effectiveness because an officer cannot easily determine whether a driver is texting, making a call or engaged in another activity until after the motorist has been pulled over. Using cellphones and other electronic devices is not currently against state laws, even though texting is.

Albo also wants to see legislation mandating ignition locks for first-time drunk drivers caught with a blood alcohol level above .15, the source reports. It is unclear whether the surge in opinion will be sufficient to result in new legislation, since distracted driving issues have been considered for some time.