Ban on Texting While Driving Expanded

We already knew that texting while driving was going to be banned come 2010, but the City Council today broadened the ban even more. Now when the ban takes effect on January 1, using your cell phone for anything besides talking while you are driving will not be condoned. No more checking Google Maps on your iPhone while driving to an acquaintance's house, no more tweeting while stuck in traffic, no checking your email as you head down IH35 . . . you get the idea. Texting while at a red light will be allowed, as well as texting in an emergency. [KXAN]

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By Elizabeth S. in News on December 17, 2009 3:15 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

John Rob

I feel it is better to concentrate on what I do rather than texting. Instead of being distracted I listen to incoming text messages and emails in my Android OS with http://www.drivesafe.ly/ mobile application.

davetx

Yeah, that couldn't be distracting.

Certainly not as distracting as spam, right?

mdahmus

I propose that it only be legal to use a handheld device in a car if it's one of these old phones:

http://annmaryliu.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/zack-morris-jimmy-fallon.jpg

That way, other drivers and cyclists and pedestrians can see you coming a mile away. You hipsters who can't bear to be without your mobile devices can just pretend this is ironic, OK?

whooo

Listening to an internet radio station like WOXY via your smart phone is now technically illegal in the city of Austin. Yes, it's true, the language of this ordinance is vague and makes music streaming on your phone illegal.

davetx

Is that really true? Or is it just the act of starting up internet radio or changing stations that would be covered by this ordinance?

bassplayinben

Will it still be legal for APD to type on and stare at their dashboard computers while driving 60MPH up North Lamar?

seth

It's shortsighted to require phones to limit use when in a moving vehicle. That would reduce use by occupants other than the driver. Mass transit mobile users would also be unnecessarily affected.

What I would like to see, however, is an established procedure for police to subpoena cell phone usage info as part of every collision investigation. In court, lawyers could use that info to throw fault around.

Seth

tim

Awesome. Now if we can just get the ban on TALKING in place. Since that's the one that there is actual science backing up as bad as drunk driving. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that texting is no where as near as bad as talking.

I'm still getting lane incursions on a pretty much daily basis from people talking on the phone. Not that I think that the ban will actually get anyone to change their behavior. We need phones that can detect that they're in a moving vehicle and automatically forward to voicemail.