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Push to Ban Texting Behind the Wheel

Montpelier, Vermont - October 16, 2009

It's something we've all probably seen at a stop light or on the road-- a driver using a cell phone.

"I think texting and driving is the stupidest thing people do," said Erin Smith of East Corinth.

Erin Smith singles out texting because her brother was in a crash after sending a message.

"It was more like he swerved off the road and then came back so like I was in the car with him," she explained. "So it's kind of scary. You just want him to put the phone down-- OK, that's enough."

"Driving and texting is one of the most dangerous things a person can do," said Sen. Vince Illuzzi, R-Essex-Orleans.

Senator Illuzzi has heard enough stories like that, so he's pushing a new bill banning texting while driving. He says it's worse than using a cell phone since it involves typing. Despite a cell phone use ban stalling in the Legislature last year Senator Illuzzi says this bill will pass.

"Given the response I've received from individuals talking to them on the street-- other legislators-- I don't think there will be much resistance to this bill," Illuzzi said.

If caught, a person would get a $500 fine and two points on their license. Eighteen states have laws that ban texting while driving.

"We would support it," Vt. State Police Cpl. Bob Halpin said.

State Police just started tracking accidents connected with cell phone use. The numbers don't separate out texting, but two years ago there were 12 cases. Last year it almost tripled to 31 accidents involving cell phones. Three were fatal.

"The median age we had in here was 35 years old, the extreme was a 75-year-old that ended up being fatal-- the phone was answered and there was a collision. So it comes down to it doesn't matter if you are young or old, you need to be doing the safe thing which is concentrating on traffic around you," Halpin said.

Drivers we talked to support the new bill.

"I think it's a good idea because there's a lot of accidents from it," said Kayla Britch of East Corinth.

"I think it's a very dangerous thing to do. To try to text or even talk on the cell phone to me is very dangerous and they should not be doing that while driving," said Thanna Adams of Berlin.

A recent national study found overall Vermonters tend not to text while driving. Vermont has the third lowest percentage in the country-- 19 percent. Nationwide 26 percent of drivers text.

Kristin Carlson - WCAX News