Austin may ban texting while driving

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Text messaging while driving may soon spell trouble for Austin motorists, under a proposal by some Austin city leaders.

The Austin City Council will consider a preliminary move to ban the popular practice at its meeting this Thursday.

Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Martinez, Council Member Chris Riley, and Mayor Lee Leffingwell are looking to ban text messaging, surfing the internet, or e-mailing while driving a car or riding a bike.

"It's more about educating the public about the dangers of texting while driving," said Martinez.

In an unrelated part of the proposal that just deals with safety, drivers would also have to keep a three-foot distance while following "vulnerable road users," including pedestrians, bicyclists, and those in wheelchairs.

The city's Public Safety Task Force passed a resolution in support of the proposed ordinance in November 2008.

Martinez has floated the measure around City Hall for more than year, putting the item off during the legislative session.

When the Legislature failed to enact further restrictions, Martinez said he would put the item back on the agenda.

City leaders point to various studies that show the dangers of texting while driving.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute revealed released a study that shows of all the things you can do behind the wheel, texting or typing an e-mail is by far the most dangerous.

The research showed that text messaging makes a driver 23 times more likely to crash than not using a phone and it has the highest duration of eyes off the road time. Out of every six seconds, drivers were not looking at the road for 4.6 seconds. That equates to traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without even seeing where you're going.

If the council approves it Thursday, the city manager would have a few months to prepare ordinances to finally put the measure into city ordinance codes after another council vote.

Drivers would most likely face a misdemeanor fine, Martinez said, which could have penalties up to $500.

Bans on the use of cell phones or mobile devices while driving are becoming more widespread. A new Texas law that bans talking on cell phones while driving in a school zone goes into effect on Sept. 1.