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| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA ADVISORY For Immediate Release: MARCH 24, 2010 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD SECOND HEARING ON
TEXTING WHILE DRIVING BAN
(Columbus) -- Citing national studies that detail the dangers of distracted driving, Columbus City Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther, chair of the Public Safety Committee, is proposing legislation that will improve roadway safety by prohibiting the use of mobile devices to compose, send, receive, or read text messages while driving.
"All forms of distracted driving are dangerous, but texting while driving is especially dangerous because it takes drivers' hands, eyes and mind off the road, said Ginther. “When a driver’s attention is not completely on controlling their vehicle, it puts the driver, their passengers, other motorists and pedestrians in danger.”
Councilmember Ginther will hold the second of two public hearings on the proposed texting while driving ban Tuesday, March 30 at City Hall. The hearing begins at 5 pm in Council Chambers and public input is welcomed.
A National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Study conducted by Virginia Tech found 80% of all crashes and 65% of near crashes involve some form of distraction. Councilmember Ginther’s proposed legislation closely mirrors legislation already in place in 19 states, the District of Columbia and under consideration in many central Ohio communities. Cleveland, Toledo and Bexley have all passed laws banning texting while driving.
“I know that leaders in the statehouse are crafting a texting while driving ban and I look forward to a uniform standard for Ohio. But, we do not know when or if they will complete their work and Columbus residents cannot wait for a finished product. That is why it is critical to move forward on the local level to improve safety on Columbus roads,” said Ginther.
A violation of the texting while driving ban will be a primary offense and will result in a minor misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $150.00 fine. Public Safety leaders in Columbus hope that having a law on the books will help changes people’s perception of the problem of texting while driving; and eventually their attitude towards this behavior.
“This is a real and genuine concern for law enforcement,” said Seth Walker, Deputy Public Safety Director. “A ban on texting while driving will not only make our roads safer, but will also highlight the seriousness of this behavior.”
Walker cites the successful “Click It or Ticket” campaign for raising the profile of seatbelt usage to its current all-time high national usage rate ever of 83%. Both Ginther and Walker believe a similar public education campaign can curtail the incidents of texting while driving.
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