A state lawmaker is hoping the legislature will ban sending text messages while behind the wheel. Recent news that the federal government suppressed a study showing the hazards of cell phoning and driving has state Senator Alan Lasee more optimistic over his bill ( SB 103 ) banning texting behind the wheel. The DePere Republican says texting is even more risky. "There is a difference between using a cell phone and texting," says Lasee. "Texting requires you to really take your eyes off the road, read the message, and then take your eyes off the road, and using one or two hands, send a message back."
Lasee says he's had conversations on the dangers of texting and driving with his own grandchildren – and he had an eye opening encounter with a texting driver while riding his motorcycle recently near Portage. "I looked over, and she had both hands off the wheel on the phone, texting. She was five, six feet away from me, doing 80 miles an hour."
Lasee's bill has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee and is available to be scheduled for a floor vote. "I think the chances of passing some sort of restriction on texting and driving are probably imminent," says Lasee "My attitude is, because it's so serious, and the act of texting is different than talking on the phone, I think we need to highlight it, and it should really be taught for the young drivers who are trying to get a driving permit."
