Lawmakers to Propose Ban on Driving While Texting

[sanmanc]

The Associated Press has reported that a group of Democratic Senators is proposing legislation to ban texting while driving to help prevent deaths and injuries resulting from drivers being distracted while operating handheld electronic devices.

In a study released earlier this week, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about six times in cars and trucks.

The proposed law would require states to ban texting and emailing while operating a moving vehilce or face losing up to 25% of their federal highway funding. This law would not be enforced if the vehicle is stopped.

If passed the Transportation Secretary will issue guidlines 6 months before the measure is signed into law and states would have two years to approve the ban on texting and emailing.