City's texting ban confuses drivers

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Just days away from a ban on texting while driving, Austin city leaders say it doesn't go far enough. That last-minute crackdown on distracted driving, set to begin Jan. 1, will make the City Council’s agenda Thursday.

Some council members want it to apply to everything but talking on the phone, though they don’t see it including other similar devices like iPods or video games.

"No, it's pretty simple,” said council member Laura Morrison. “You can use your cell phone for making a phone call when driving, and that's it."

Morrison hopes an addition to the original statement (below in bold) will aid in understanding:

“A driver of a motor vehicle may not use a wireless communication device to view, send or compose an electronic message or engage other application software while operating a motor vehicle.”

The City Council must vote on the new language before it goes into effect. Upon council approval, the plan will ban handheld GPS, Internet surfing, and scrolling through photos, in addition to texting.

"It's probably a good thing,” said John Gomez, an Austin driver, “being that I'm guilty of doing it, and it will probably save lives."

Austin’s is the first citywide ban in the state. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia outlawed texting while driving, and a new Texas law already aims to stop drivers from using a cell phone in school zones.

Some drivers said Austin’s ban is too confusing, and even the city council’s re-wording won’t work.

"It shouldn't be done at all,” said Benny Aleman. “It's crucial to your health."

Asked why the ban fails to encompass other distracting devices, Morrison said, “This captures the vast majority of the issues on the road."

The plan makes some exceptions, allowing you to:

• Text when stopped at a traffic light.
• Use the phone's navigation system if it's mounted in plain sight.
• Text in an emergency.

"(Texting) is probably actually worse than drinking and driving or equivalent to because you don't have your eyes on the road,” said driver Kristy Sardenga.

Morrison said enforcement will be tricky. Starting Jan. 1, there will be a police awareness campaign. That will include a one-month warning period. Then, in six months, the council will speak to police to find out if the ban is actually working.