Ban on texting-while-driving awaits Perry's signature

From Star-Telegram transportation guru Gordon Dickson:

In the closing hours of the legislative session that ended Monday, lawmakers passed a statewide ban on sending or reading emails, text messages or instant messages while driving. The bill awaits Gov. Rick Perry's signature.

If it becomes law, motorists could be fined $200 for a violation, beginning Sept. 1. Under Texas law, the governor has 20 days after adjournment to sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without his signature.

The measure that passed the Senate 28-3 late Sunday is tougher than a previous version of the bill that was debated earlier in the session. The previous version would have outlawed sending text messages, but not reading them, while driving.

But safety experts have warned against encouraging motorists to read texts. Nationwide, distracted driving caused 20 percent of traffic deaths in 2009, up from 10 percent in 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cellphone use is one of the most common distractions.

Also, some Texas lawmakers had raised concerns about whether the previous version of the bill could be enforced.

For example, how could an officer prove that a driver was sending, rather than just reading, a message? The tougher version that passed both houses of the Legislature eliminates that confusion by making it illegal to either send or read a message.

Dickson noted that the ban will include some exceptions:

For example, drivers would still be allowed to input a phone number into their device for purposes of making a call. Also, texting would still be allowed for those who use hands-free technology, a global positioning system or a device attached to the car.

In addition, drivers whose job includes communicating with a dispatcher would still be able to send job-related texts.

More details from Dickson here.

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[kaiti boyle]

i take the pledge to never text while driving.. i have friends who do it.. and im goin to get those Remember Alex Brown bands that u out on ur thumb to remind you.. and give them to my friends... we wont let this happen to anyone from now on

[Will]

I have never understood how texting takes priority over operating a vehicle at high speeds. If something is really important, then pull over.

[Cameron Sikes]

What about for people who have iPhones and are just looking for a song to play but get pulled over for texting?