Texas Is Tough On The Texting While DrivingTrend

In Texas, the current policy bans texting while driving as well as all use of a cell phone unless it's used with a hands-free device like a Bluetooth for the car.  State law allows mobile phone usage while driving but bans texting and talking while inside school zones. This law could all change if HB 243 passes.  The bill states that an operator may not use a wireless communication device to read, write or send a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped.  Sheriff Terry Box of Collin County supports the bill and has implemented similar policy inside the sheriff's office patrol areas.

"I believe texting while behind the wheel of a vehicle should be illegal," Sheriff Box said. "This, in my opinion, will become the #1 contributing factor to all accidents in the future." 

"There is a place on the accident report for contributing factors like cell phones, but no one hardly ever checks the box because the officers don't witness it and when asked, the drivers never will admit to using the cell phone so most officers just check the box for 'drivers inattention,'" the Sheriff said. "That is probably a catch-all for talking and texting."

 

"I do believe it to be compared to drunk driving," Sheriff Box said, "and I believe in the next few years it could be as serious as drunk driving if we don't try to change our habits now. It is my opinion that everyone thinks they can do it and still drive OK and everyone else shouldn't."

Drivers' distracted operation of a motor vehicle, has and will continue to be a major issue for others on the roads. This is best summed up with statistics from www.distraction.gov the government's website for distracted driving.

Additional states including Maryland, New Jersey, California, New York, Connecticut, Delaware and Washington have also taken the steps for legislature to ban all handheld cell phone usage unless a Bluetooth for the car is utilized.

Text messaging is banned in 30 states as well as the District of Columbia. Additionally, inexperienced drivers are banned from texting in eight states: Mississippi, Alabama, Maine, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Indiana and West Virginia.  States such as Oklahoma and Texas have specific laws for school bus drivers who are banned from text messaging.