Editorial: Statewide Texting While Driving Ban - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Statewide Texting While Driving Ban

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - In July of last year I wrote an editorial urging the City of Montgomery to ban handheld cell phone use while driving.  The city passed that ordinance. 

In fact since last year's legislative session some 20 Alabama municipalities of varying sizes have passed some form of law limiting the use of cell phones while driving.

In addition, 11 states passed text messaging bans last year, bringing the total number of states with this ban to 30. 

Alabama has one of the worst teen fatality rates in the country and teenagers love to text message.  Any distraction while driving is dangerous, but numerous studies have shown that texting is one of the worst, and that a ban on texting reduces accidents.

Again, this year, a bill has been introduced in Alabama's legislature to ban texting while driving.   While this bill seems like no brainer… the legislature tried but did not pass it last year. 

I urge Alabama's lawmakers to create consistency state wide on this matter.  Follow the lead of those 20 Alabama cities and 30 states and pass the text messaging while driving ban.

Mark Wilder 
Programming, Operations & Internet Manager
WSFA 12 News 

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