Texas State Representatives Propose Cell Phone Driving Ban

Two Democratic Texas State Representatives, Jose Menendez and Trey Martinez-Fischer, have introduced legislation that would make it illegal to use a cell phone while driving on Texas roads.

The pair was prompted to introduce the bill after hearing about an accident in late 2008 that took the life of a woman and her 4 month old daughter.  The 16 year old mother had been talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident.

Similar stories of cell phone use contributing to deadly car accidents are not uncommon in Texas, where the only ban on cell phone use is for bus drivers with young passengers and intermediate license holders during their first 6 months.

In addition, State Senator Judith Zaffirini introduced a bill that would ban text messaging while driving.  These bills are just two that are going before state lawmakers in this legislative session.

Research studies have added fuel to the debate surrounding the use of mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle.  A study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis revealed that drivers using a cell phone cause 6 percent of motor vehicle accidents, which means that cell phone use can be blamed for 2,600 deaths and 12,000 injuries every year.

The issue is so serious that the National Safety Council has recommended that states ban the use of cell phones while driving.  Not only that, but since studies at the University of Utah have shown that hands-free phones aren’t any safer, they should be banned as well.

Bills banning cell phone use while driving have been difficult to pass in Texas and in other states across the country.  Only time will tell if Texas legislators believe that this issue is serious enough to tackle during this tough economic climate.