AAA: Texting while driving a nasty mix

Clay Ingram said new technologies help people multi-task in their everyday lives, but those luxuries can be a distraction when driving.

"Text messaging while driving is becoming more and more of a problem," said Ingram, a public relations official with AAA Alabama.

He said text messaging and driving is comparable to drinking and driving.

"And there are studies that indicate (texting while driving) could be more dangerous," he said. "It's more dangerous than looking off the road to change the radio station."

Lt. Tony Barnett, of the Florence Police Department's Crash Reduction Unit, said anything that diverts a driver's attention is dangerous.

"When someone gets behind the wheel of a car, driving should be the only thing on their mind," he said. "Distractions, no matter what kind, are dangerous."

Ingram said that's one reason AAA and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety are launching new legislative and marketing campaigns to reduce distracted driving and improve roadway safety.

"We have started a campaign where AAA will be working to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states by 2013," Ingram said.

There are 18 states and the District of Columbia that already have these laws in place.

"We'll continue to work through public education, driver training and other safety programs to discourage motorists from engaging in the broad range of other distractions that tempt them while behind the wheel," Ingram said.

Ray Hill has been the constable in the east Franklin County community of Tharptown since 1989 and has seen many wrecks. He worked one last week that was caused by a driver who was texting.

"(The woman) said she took her eyes off the road while she was texting and when that happened, she ran off the road and her car just flipped over," Hill said. "She was lucky; she wasn't hurt bad, but that just shows how quickly an accident can happen when you look away."

Ingram said in a recent survey, AAA found that 97 percent of residents said there needs to be a law in place to keep people from texting while driving.

"It's really a senseless thing to do while driving," he said. "It's so obvious that it is a traffic danger - not only to the people texting, but to others on the highway.

"Text messaging involves at least one hand and you have to look at the texting devise more than you look at the road. We've all seen it, someone looking down while they're driving, texting and swerving back and forth in traffic. It's a disaster waiting to happen."

Ingram said he expects a bill to be introduced into the Alabama Legislature when it convenes in 2010.

Rep. Mike Curtis, D-Greenhill, said he has no problem supporting something that would make roadways safer.

Curtis was chairman of the House Public Safety Committee that discussed a similar bill in this year's session.

"The bill ... never came up for a vote on the floor," Curtis said.

Curtis said he's not surprised the issue will likely come back up in 2010. "It should," he said.

Ingram said AAA officials believe there is a good chance in getting bills passed in Alabama and other states.

"It's a dire need, and people are understanding that," he said. "It's a no-brainier."

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.