Great News: Austin City Council to Ban Texting While Driving

I’ve written numerous times about the idiots and asswipes who text or talk on the cell phone while driving — they’re easily the biggest menace and greatest danger on the road:

In a preliminary vote, the Austin City Council unanimously agreed this morning to create a ban on text messaging while driving, and also to require a three-foot driving distance between vehicles and other road users, such as bicyclists and pedestrians.

The ideas won’t take effect right away. City staffers will spend a few months writing ordinances that the council will have to vote on before they take effect.

A few council members and a few speakers expressed concerns that both policies would be difficult for police to enforce. They also stressed that the texting ban should be coupled with a strong public education campaign to be effective.

APD Chief Acevedo noted that cellphone users are responsible for more accidents in Austin than drunk drivers. While this is a good start, banning ALL cell phone usage while driving would be even better.