AAA Wisconsin Applauds Governor Doyle, Wisconsin Legislators for Keeping Roads Safe by Banning Texting While Driving
MADISON, Wis., May 5 -- AAA Wisconsin applauds Governor Doyle and Wisconsin legislators for their commitment to keep Wisconsin's roads safe by passing AB496 into law, which bans text messaging while driving for all drivers. With the passage of this bill into law, Wisconsin becomes the 25th state to expressly prohibit texting while driving for all drivers.
"AAA Wisconsin applauds the Wisconsin Assembly and Governor Doyle for banning texting while driving, which will significantly enhance driving safety across our state," said Tom Frymark, Regional President, AAA Wisconsin. "We'll continue to make drivers aware of the dangers of texting while driving and of the importance of obeying this new law."
The data on texting while driving are clear. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some type of driver distraction. According to the study, cell phone use - including texting - was one of the principal distractions that led to crashes.
The law carries the support of AAA Wisconsin's members as well. A 2008 survey of AAA members across Wisconsin found that 92 percent of respondents support a law that bans texting while driving for all drivers. Furthermore, in the same survey, distracted driving was AAA members' second biggest traffic safety concern, second only to drunk driving.