By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Panel to study texting and driving rules
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A legislative panel plans to investigate the potentially dangerous practice of texting while driving.
The House Public Safety Committee will convene a hearing on Thursday to take testimony from law enforcement and public safety advocates on the seriousness of the problem in the state.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has launched a campaign to pass laws banning text messaging while driving in all 50 states. A law prohibiting texting or sending e-mail while driving went into effect in Arkansas last week.
AAA Oklahoma spokesman Chuck Mai plans to testify at Thursday's hearing. Mai says the organization will work to pass an anti-texting law in Oklahoma this year.
AAA says 18 states and the District of Columbia currently have laws addressing text messaging by all drivers.