The seven year toll (2001~2007) is 16,000 deaths.
Sending text messages while driving led to accidents that killed an estimated 16,000 people from 2001 to 2007.
An analysis of federal data on road fatalities, in the American Journal of Public Health, concluded that deaths due to "distracted driving" surged...Read more here.
Texting while driving bans don't seem to work.
Researchers at the Highway Loss Data Institute reported today they found no reduction in car collisions after texting-while-driving laws took effect.
The researchers calculated rates of collision claims for vehicles in California, Louisiana, Minnesota and Washington, immediately before and immediately after those states banned texting while driving.
My guess is the bans don't work because people ignore them. It is difficult to enforce these laws when people can hid the phone out of sight. Hiding the phone while texting may actually distract the driver more.
