Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The Alex Brown Memorial Act a bill to enact a statewide ban on texting while driving was passed by the Texas House of Representatives and will be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration.
Rep. Tom Craddick and the bills joint authors
Rep. Byron Cook Rep. Patricia Harless Rep. Eddie Lucio III and Rep. Gene Wu saw House Bill 80 receive overwhelming support from the Texas House during the debate on second and third readings.
The third times the charm Craddick said. I am elated the Texas House supports our effort to save lives. Texans who text and drive increase their risk of a crash by at least eight times. I am proud that we are one step closer to reducing crashes injuries and fatalities. If this law saves one life it is worth it.
Texans know all too well that texting drivers put the lives of other drivers passengers and pedestrians at risk just like drunk drivers. Distracted driving is responsible for one in every five crashes in Texas and those crashes are completely preventable if drivers just put their phone down Craddick said. Texans lives are worth more than a text. I encourage everyone to save a life by putting their phone away while they drive.
House Bill 80 will be sent to the Texas Senate for consideration. A hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation has not been set.
