Senator introduces bill to ban texting while driving

Despite the traffic collisions, texting and driving is not against the law in New Mexico; however state Sen. Peter Wirth hopes this will be the year that changes. 

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration indicates crashes caused by texting while driving are 23 times worse than those where drivers are paying attention. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly five seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that’s blindly driving the length of an entire football field. 

A texting-while-driving bill has never survived the New Mexico legislature. 

However, cities like Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe have enacted laws banning the practice. Thirty nine states have a texting-while-driving law. 

Wirth hopes New Mexico will become the 40th.

Senator introduces bill to ban texting while driving