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Ban Texting when Driving in Austin

Texting while Driving IS A NO NO

The City of Austin has an Ordinance with a new proposal to ban TEXTING while driving.

The Austin Business Journal of Friday Sept 4,2009 carried an article about the proposed ban along with an informal poll of 1,048 votes in the poll. 56% voted to ban texting while driving, while another 29 percent said the use of cell phones should be banned altogether. Only 15 percent said the city should not ban texting while driving.

It is expected the Ordinance will come before the City Council this fall for confirmation. Recently it was in the Austin American Statesman that talking on a cell phone when in a school zone will be a traffic violation subject to ticketing. Sounds like Austin is getting serious about their traffic laws. From this drivers perspective, that is a good thing.

Posted by South Austin Real Estate Blog, on 09/05/2009 07:21 PM

Comments (10)

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Originally posted at: South Austin Texas Real Estate blog: Ban Texting when Driving in Austin

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10 Comments on Ban Texting when Driving in Austin

SEP

Just had a kid drive through one our neighbor's home in River Place. Yes, he was texting. He went straight through the living room and ended up in the living room. Somehow, no one was hurt.

This should be a no brainer anyway. Too many accidents can be caused because someone is looking for a letter to hit with their thumbs. I like California's rule which is no cell phones while driving. Put both hands on the wheel and drive.

Texting should be banned everywhere -- we do not need more distractions to possibly create accidents.

SEP

California has banned hands-on cell phone use since July 1, 2008. Unfortunately, here in California, everything has to be spelled out to the final period, and someone forgot to put "texting" in the bill, so the first person who challenged the law because he wasn't talking on his phone, he was texting, won. The law also allows you to dial a number on your phone and then talk using a hands-free device. Those number keys are so small, it wouldn't surprise me if more people had accidents from dialing numbers than actually talking on a cell phone.

I don't understand why people think it is so important, at that instant, while driving, to send or receive a text message. It's great to be connected, but please use some basic common sense!

Tim its fortunate no one was hurt, hopefully one more lesson was learned. Texting while driving is just plain STUPID.

John, you are so right, while I am guilty of talking and driving if its more than chit chat I pull over into a parking lot so I can take notes.

Bob and Carol... its amazing to me that we must make laws to cover what should be common sense.

Jim, that is ridiculous and a part of our countrys problems, common sense needs to prevail. If one can not hold a phone to talk into it, how far a leap is it to realize one can not hold a phone to text on it? Stupid judge!

John, I am befuddled by it too. IF a call is so important to risk your life for, not to mention the others in traffic (like me or my grandsons) then PULL OVER.