AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A citywide ban of texting while driving is now closer to becoming a reality.
The Amarillo Traffic Commission voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon to recommend to the City Commision that a ban be placed on all text messaging while driving within the city limits of Amarillo.
"When you take your eyes off the road to look at your cell phone, if you have an accident, if you kill someone, if you wrecked your car and you didn't have a car, what would the outcome of that?", urged Amarillo Traffic Commission Chair, D.J. Stubben. "We all talked about being in favor of the ban and also in favor of an educational program."
No further details were discussed on the issue as to enforcement and definitions.
This comes after the Traffic Commission met last November to discuss the issue. At that meeting, the public was allowed to discuss their opinions on the issue. Only one person stood up during Wednesday's meeting to oppose the ban.
"It's something that'll make them feel like they're doing something to keep us safer but cell phone distractions account for such a small percentage of traffic fatalities or injuries that I just don't think that it's going to have an effect," said Amarillo local, Trina Fournier. "Prohibitions don't keep people from doing things they want to do."
Texting while driving in Amarillo school zones is already illegal.
Pronews 7 reporter Emily Griffin contributed to this story.
