Although several cities in Texas, including Austin, already have a city-wide ban on texting Gov. Perry declared in his veto statement to HB 242 that a state-wide ban on texting while driving would be, " a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults," and that the current Texas law prohibiting teenage drivers from texting while driving is sufficient. Gov. Perry also stated that, "the keys to dissuading drivers of all ages from texting while driving are information and education."
Gov. Perry did not draw a distinction between texting while driving and other harmful driving behaviors that the State has deemed worthy of curbing by both education and civil/criminal penalties, e.g. Click It or Ticket campaign and the Faces of Drunk Driving campaign. In light of this veto, it is interesting to note that research has shown that talking on a cell phone impairs a driver's reaction time as much, if not more than, drunk driving.
The Texas Department of Transportation currently promotes a public awareness campaign called, "Talk. Text. Crash" which refers to distracted driving as a "deadly trend...in Texas, where nearly one in four crashes involves driver distraction." Apparently Gov. Perry believes that the best way to curb this deadly trend that kills hundreds of Texans every year does not include any civil or criminal penalties. If you desire to express your opinion either in support of the Governor or in opposition you may contact the Governor here; the text of the vetoed bill can be found here.
Gov. Perry did not draw a distinction between texting while driving and other harmful driving behaviors that the State has deemed worthy of curbing by both education and civil/criminal penalties, e.g. Click It or Ticket campaign and the Faces of Drunk Driving campaign. In light of this veto, it is interesting to note that research has shown that talking on a cell phone impairs a driver's reaction time as much, if not more than, drunk driving.
The Texas Department of Transportation currently promotes a public awareness campaign called, "Talk. Text. Crash" which refers to distracted driving as a "deadly trend...in Texas, where nearly one in four crashes involves driver distraction." Apparently Gov. Perry believes that the best way to curb this deadly trend that kills hundreds of Texans every year does not include any civil or criminal penalties. If you desire to express your opinion either in support of the Governor or in opposition you may contact the Governor here; the text of the vetoed bill can be found here.
