ILLINOIS TO BAN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign an amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code today that will prohibit writing, sending or receiving text messages while driving. The law extends to not just text messaging, but other types of "electronic messages," such as emails or instant messages. The law makes exceptions for drivers pulled over, parked or stopped in traffic. The enactment of this amendment makes Illinois the 17th state in the country to outlaw texting while driving.
The Governor's Highway Safety Association acknowledges that passing laws banning texting while driving is not the solution, but is rather only part of it. Barbara Harsah, executive director of the GHSA noted, "The laws won't really have any effect unless they're enforced and the public knows about it and it's properly adjudicated."
Studies have repeatedly shown that those who text while driving have an exponentially greater risk of an accident.
I am pleased that Illinois is helping lead the way to target and punish drivers distracted by this dangerous behavior.
