Texas Has No Texting While Driving Ban – Yet

Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) October 21, 2016 – Texas does not have a statewide texting while driving ban in place. Yet. That may change but politics does seem to play a large part of successfully passing such a law.

As far as getting a statewide ban on texting while driving, Texas still remains one of only four states in the United States that does not have one. For many reasons, the concept of such a law has been fought over amongst lawmakers. In the absence of a statewide law there is a patchwork of different laws in various cities and towns – Austin and 59 towns have bans in place on using a cellphone while driving and/or texting while driving, but many think it is not enough.

Police, families and lawmakers are realizing that there are far too many deaths as a result of texting while driving and that the time has come to do something about it. In fact Texas Representative Byron Cook says, “We’re losing too many fellow citizens, needlessly to distracted drivers.” If Cook is successful, a statewide ban on distracted driving would be passed as soon as possible in the wake of the recent AAA Texas Distracted Driving Policy Summit.

“Passing a statewide law may still be a struggle though,” indicated Austin personal injury attorney, Bobby Lee. Bills to ban texting while driving have been introduced in the last three sessions of the legislature and nothing has come of it. Another try to get a bill passed was vetoed by former Governor Rick Perry in 2011 and two bills made it as far as the Senate in 2014 and 2015 respectively, but that is as far as they went.

Currently, only the youngest drivers in The Lone Star state are not allowed to text while driving. “Simply put, that is not good enough to stop the ever increasing death rate in accidents as a result of distracted driving,” Lee added.

While there are efforts to bring a full statewide texting ban into place, it may take some time to realize that goal in the form of a law. “If you have been involved in an accident where another driver was negligently texting while behind the wheel, make sure to connect as soon as possible with a competent personal injury attorney. You need to know your legal rights and what amount you may be able to claim for compensation. Do not wait to contact a lawyer or you run the risk of missing the filing deadline according to the statute of limitations,” Lee said.

To learn more, visit http://www.lgrlawfirm.com

Lee, Gober & Reyna
11940 Jollyville Road #220-S
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512.478.8080

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