Democrats Push for Ban on Texting while Driving

July 29, 2009

Several Democratic senators are pushing for a new traffic law that will prohibit people from texting while driving following recent studies which suggested that operating electronic devices behind the wheel is more dangerous than drunk driving.

Under the proposed law, any state that will not implement texting ban will lose 25 percent of its annual highway funds, a penalty also adopted when the Congress passed the federal drunk driving ban.

Currently, there are 14 states and the District of Columbia that have adopted the legislation.

In an interview with reporters, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. said the federal government should immediately pass the legislation that will promote public safety and protect millions of Americans.

The lawmaker said the texting ban will only apply to moving vehicles and does not prohibit drivers to text or email inside a stopped or parked car.

If this legislation is enacted, the Department of Transportation will be required to release the guidelines within six months while the states will have to pass this texting ban within two years.

Earlier this week, researchers from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted a study which revealed that truck drivers who texted increased their collision risk up to 23 times compared to those who were not distracted by any electronic device.

The researchers said the study also applies to all drivers.