Lawmakers Host Victims of Texting While Driving

By: The Associated Press Email

Posted: Tue 11:05 PM, Jan 29, 2013

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini and Rep. Tom Craddick have brought the victims of texting-while-driving accidents to the Capitol to build support for a ban on the practice.

Family members recounted on Tuesday how their loved ones died in traffic accidents because someone was distracted by text messages on their mobile phones.

Craddick, a West Texas Republican, passed a ban in 2011, but Gov. Rick Perry vetoed it, calling it an infringement on personal liberty. Thirty-nine states already ban texting while driving.

Victims' families said a person who is texting while driving is twice as likely to cause an accident as someone who is drinking while driving.

Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat, called on lawmakers to pass the measure again and for Perry to reconsider his veto.

I-5 Bridge Collapse Caused by Truck Hitting Span

We ask that the following Community Standards be followed:

Comments must not be profane or vulgar.

Comments must not use hate speech, racial slurs, or violent descriptions.

We encourage varying views to be shared. We do ask commenters to not personally attack other readers, groups, people featured in our stories, or other posters for disagreeing with their views.

Comments must not contain negative, comparative debates between community standards of cities or towns.

Comments must contribute to the discussion, flaming and/or trolling will not be tolerated.

Comments must be truthful and not intentionally falsified. Providing a source link is encouraged.

If you find that a comment violates the above rules, please use the flagging option located to the right of the comment to notify the moderators.
For a complete list of guidelines, please follow this link:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/misc/Online-Commenting-Policy-181579421.html