Banning Texting While Driving
Interest groups
Support
People who want to sue
Lost people
Resulted injured
U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA)
National Safety Council (NSC)
Citizen Groups
Safety Programs
Drop It and Drive (DIAD)
Impact Teen Drivers
End Distracted Driving
AAA Foundation Of Traffic Safety
Law Reformers
Oppose
People being sued
Young drivers
Teenagers
Adults 18 to 30 years old
Provisions
Fines and Charges
Offenders
First time offenders
FIne up to $25 - $99
Continuous offenders
Fine up to $100 - $200
Injury and death
MAX of $4,000
One year in jail
Additional charges/ punishments
Drivers under 18 are also barred from texting and driving.
Illegal to use a mobile device in any school zone.
Legal
Motorists in most cities to use their phone
Red light, it's not a violation to be looking at a phone because they're not "operating a vehicle" in that moment.
Goals
Identify traffic safety problems
Limit the use of electronic devices
Regulating unsafe driver behavior
Raising public awareness
Setting an example to children
Providing Extensive research over
Web Driving Simulators
Reduce wrecks
Reduce the amount of money spent in wrecks
Making it safer for pedestrians and motorists
Ban should be reconcider
Other factors of distraction
Laws against texting and banning are hard to enforceme
Texting and driving being illegal is unpractical
Hard for officers to see what a person is doing with their cellphone
Legal Foundations
2011: the Texas Legislature was successful in passing a statewide ban
Unfortunately was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry.
2013: similar bill was passed with wide bipartisan support
Senate Transportation Committee refused to allow a vote on the bill.
2015: House Bill 80
Misdemeanor statewide to use a portable wireless device
Passed the House panel
Lacked votes in order to reach the Senate
Defeated in the Senate before becoming law
2017: House Bill 65 took effect
Governor Greg Abbott signs
Becomes a law
Texas the 47th state to officially ban the dangerous practice of texting while driving
45 cities have also enacted hands-free ordinances.