Tom Craddick, Texas Representative, has suggested a ban on SMS text messages while driving. While pre-filing his texting legislation for the 2013 session, Craddick related "it was time for Texas to join the other 39 states and the District of Columbia to prohibit this threatening behavior for all drivers."
Other towns have also implemented distracted driving laws. Fort Worth has stopped its police force from using on-board computers while driving due to 15 police auto crashes in the last 3 years. El Paso has stepped up its crack down on cellphone use while driving by issuing some 15,000 citations in less than 2 years. Houston on the other hand has issued fewer tickets for this cause during the current year.
Distracted driving accounts for the 3rd highest cause of traffic fatalities in Texas's 3048 traffic fatalities of 2011. So far in 2012, about 2,545 deaths have been logged as of November, the Texas Dept of Transportation said. Texas Defensive Driving Classes mentions the dangers of distracted driving.
Amarillo joins other Texas cities banning texting and handheld cell phone use by all drivers in its town limits. This law was just made effective in October of the present year. A council member there said: "Sometimes we should protect ourselves from ourselves." The city of Magnolia, Texas is pleased with their law, and announces auto wrecks are down by over 50% since their law went into effect. The Magnolia mayor says he has received nothing except good feedback on the law that went into effect in Sep of 2012
Gov. Rick Perry vetoed the Legislature's plan to prohibit text messaging for all drivers, meaning Texas probably will not see a statewide texting ban until at least 2014.
Towns are having to enact these laws because Rick Perry denied Texas law-making plans for a statewide texting ban.
Current prohibitions:
- Drivers under the age of 18 are restricted from utilizing wireless communications devices while driving.
- Learners permit holders are restricted from using hand held cell telephones in the first six months of driving.
- School bus operators prohibited from utilizing cellphones while driving if children are present.
- Drivers restricted from using handheld devices in school crossing zones.
Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Amarillo, Galveston, El Paso, Missouri City, Stephenville are among the Texas towns that have enacted local distracted driving laws.
Governor Perry called the law "government effort to micromanage the actions of adults." He was running for the presidency at the time, so it was most likely done to mollify the anti-government supporters.
Craddick's House Bill 243, pre-filed for 2013, "will provide a uniform state-wide approach to curb this dangerous practice and will go a long way in helping educate drivers on the risks posed by texting while driving and save lives." This will help fill the gap, since Texas is just one of eleven states without a ban on driver text-messaging.
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Distracted driving tickets and other Texas traffic tickets can be dismissed by taking Online Defensive Driving Classes. Teen Driving Classes are also available at the same web site
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