SAVANNAH, Ga., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- An organization of state highway safety officials is set to announce in Savannah, Ga., they endorse a ban on texting while driving, the chairman said.
The Governors Highway Safety Association are set to announce Monday it is joining legislators and safety advocates in the campaign to ban text messaging while driving, The New York Times reported Sunday.
"A ban will send a message to the public that this dangerous practice is unacceptable. We can begin to change the culture that has permitted distracted driving," chairman Vernon F. Betkey said.
Research indicates truckers who text are 23 times more likely than others to be involved in a crash or near-crash and drivers eight times more likely, the newspaper said.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has set up a distracted driving summit meeting for late September, which will include discussion of texting while driving. Several U.S. senators have introduced legislation designed to force states to ban texting while driving or risk losing federal highway money.
