(AP) -- OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry will sign an executive order that bars state employees from sending text messages while driving when they are conducting state business.
Henry will be joined at Thursday's ceremony by highway safety advocates and Reps. Danny Morgan and Sue Tibbs, who conducted an interim study on the issue last year.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, distractions caused by text messaging contribute to hundreds of injury accidents each year and also have been blamed for fatal crashes.
A statement from Henry's office says the executive order will only apply to state workers, but that Henry is hoping the measure also will help raise public awareness of the dangers of text messaging while driving.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
