By Cheryl Skinner

Missouri City council members approved an ordinance last week that bans motorists from texting while driving. The ban won’t take effect until June 1 and the city plans an extension blitz to educate the public prior to implementation.

At last week’s regular session of the city council, council members voted unanimously to approve the ordinance and Mayor Allen Owen stressed that the new measure “will prevent accidents and save lives in Missouri City.”

Officials say that the Missouri City Police Department has recorded at least six accidents involving drivers either talking on cell phones or reading a text message in the period between May 2009 and Dec. 31, 2009.

“In the one accident that involved reading a text, the driver was at fault,” Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said. “It’s important to get the word out to educate residents on the dangers of distracted driving. Enhancement of public safety is our focus, and preventing accidents is a critical component of our daily duties. We will use all traffic contacts and community meetings to advise drivers of the tenets of the ban before June 1 enforcement goes into effect. If it saves one life, isn’t it worth doing?”

The ban means motorists cannot use a wireless communication device to view, send or compose an electronic message while driving. The ordinance does not limit a motorist’s ability to talk on a cell phone while driving.

Exceptions are allowed in the event of an emergency, or when a motorist is pulled over safely to the side of the road. However, sending or reading a text is prohibited while stopped at stop signs or traffic signals.  

The city is conducting an intensified campaign to educate the public about the new law. Motorists can be fined up to $500 for a violation.
 

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