Oklahoma Governor Bans State Workers from Texting While Driving

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signed an executive order banning state employees from texting while driving on state business. State Sen. Debbe Leftwich applauds the move but wants to take it a little further by prohibiting teens from texting while behind the wheel as well.

Calling the governor’s order a “great start,” Leftwich said she “will continue to push for passage of Senate Bill 900,” which would ban teenagers from texting while driving.

In a statement on the Oklahoma Legislature Web site, Leftwich said a study released by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, truckers texting while driving increased their risk of collision by 23 times. Research by the University of Utah showed that people using handheld or even hands-free cell phones while driving are as impaired as a person with a blood-alcohol limit of .08 percent — the minimum level to be arrested for drunk driving.

“Even without texting while driving, 24 percent of 16-year-olds get a ticket or are in a crash in their first year of driving. Texting just increases the odds of a tragedy in this age group — it isn’t a matter of if but when it will happen,” said Leftwich.

Leftwich originally filed SB 900 in the 2009 session, but it was not given a hearing.

Republicans and Democrats in the Oklahoma House also have praised the governor for signing the order.

Democratic Leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague, said he is optimistic that legislation creating a similar prohibition in state law will be approved this year, because he has joined with Republican Rep. Sue Tibbs as co-author of the measure, HB3250. Similar legislation has died in committee during the past three years.

The governor’s action affects all state employees who are driving while performing their jobs, anyone driving a state-owned vehicle, and anyone using a state-owned electronic device.

In addition to texting, the order also bars similar activities involving a hand-held electronic device, such as data retrieval, reading or writing email, and instant messaging.

Source: Oklahoma Legislature

Topics Personal Auto Oklahoma