As car makers constantly work to reduce injuries that come from car wrecks with faster air bags, stronger steel frames and other measures, we need to take a step back and identify what we, as drivers, can do to prevent car accidents. Texas is working to make roads safer by banning cellphone use while on the road.
The Texas House of Representatives approved the Alex Brown Memorial Act, named after a Lubbock teen killed in a fatal texting and driving car wreck. The new bill would ban texting, emailing, reading texts or instant messaging in any capacity while driving; however, it does allow for the use of GPS and phone calls.
The Alex Memorial Act now moves to the Senate for approval, then onto Gov. Rick Perry’s desk. Unfortunately, the fate of the state-wide texting and driving ban is largely unknown due to Gov. Perry’s veto of a similar bill in 2011.
If Texas passes the Alex Brown Memorial Act, we will join 39 other states to ban or limit cellphone use while driving. With drivers texting behind the wheel 23-times more likely to get into a car accident, it is time for Texas to take a stand.
