Bill to ban texting while driving introduced in the Missouri

Rep. Rory Ellinger has introduced a bill to ban texting while driving in Missouri. KRCG 13 has the story:

Jefferson City resident Lucas Diehl said as an avid bicyclist, drivers who don't pay attention to the road are a serious hazard for him.

"I've ridden all around the United States and seen a lot of people have close calls," he said. "You don't know what they could have been doing. They could have been texting while driving."

Eureka resident Dave Kaiser called the proposal a safety feature that needs to happen.

"I see people talking on the phone, and that's horrendous. And texting is just way over the top," he said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says texting was a contributing factor in 262 crashes in 2012. Of those crashes, 82 resulted in injuries and two were fatal. State law already prohibits drivers from texting behind the wheel, but that law only applies to drivers aged 21 and under. Diehl, Kaiser and others said limiting the law to young adults does not make sense. Rep. Rory Ellinger, D-University City, wants to extend that ban to everyone regardless of age.

MoBikeFed supports legislative efforts to ban texting while driving and, more generally, curtail distracted driving.  MoBikeFed's Legislative Platform has the details.

Recent efforts to expand Missouri's current ban on texting by young drivers have not fared well in the Missouri legislature.  We will see if Ellinger's effort this year does better.  In Missouri, the work to reduce injuries and deaths due to distracted driving is a long-term effort.

Improving safety for all road users is one of the four primary goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri. Your membership and generous financial support helps make our Vision a reality!