As Distracted Driving Awareness Month continues, Idaho enacts ban on texting while driving

Last week we celebrated the April arrival of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month with the terrific news that West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin had signed the nation's 10th state law banning texting and hand-held cell phone use while driving. 

Texting behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous and irresponsible decisions a driver can make. So today--just a week later--I'm happy to congratulate the Idaho legislature and Governor Butch Otter for enacting the nation's 37th state law against texting while driving.

Idaho motorists will be safer because of the grassroots efforts of local families and safety advocates who helped raise awareness on this important issue.

For example, Allstate recently used Idaho's Kassy Kerfoot, a young woman killed in a 2009 texting crash as the face of its Save 11 campaign to help stop the number one cause of teen deaths in America.  As Allstate's campaign points out, 11 American teens die in vehicle crashes every day.  Curbing texting behind the wheel is one way to reduce that tragic number.

 

Support for the ban increased after Clay and Shauna Sauer--parents of an 18-year-old daughter, Taylor, who died in a crash last January--appealed to Idaho legislators. At the time Taylor crashed into a truck, she had been texting every 15 seconds.  Her final message: "I can't discuss this now. Driving and facebooking is not safe! Haha."

Thanks to the efforts of Kassy and Taylor’s families, and because of Governor Otter’s decision to sign a tough texting ban into law, Idaho has a new law after three years of unsuccessful attempts in the legislature. That's terrific news for anyone driving in the Gem State.

Now, we won't have a new milestone to tout every week this month, but we can all help spread the message that distracted driving kills and that one text or call could wreck it all. Please visit distraction.gov to learn more about stopping this deadly behavior.

Again, I'm thankful to Idaho and West Virginia for getting April started on the right foot.

Comments

[Samantha]

I have seen this happen so many times. Last year when I was learning how to drive I met so many reckless drivers who would drive while being on phone. There should be strict laws against this careless attitude. Perhaps we can come up with a technology which can stop this use.

[James J Cupero]

crazy story, but banning it is probably a good idea. thank you.