Texting while driving ban goes into effect Sunday

Oklahoma drivers will soon have to put down their cell phones while driving, or –starting on Sunday — risk a $100 fine.

House Bill 1965, which goes into effect on Nov. 1, states that people cannot text, take photos, videos or update his or her social media while their vehicle is in motion. The penalty for breaking the new law is a $100 fine. However, individuals may use their devices at stoplights and stop signs, and to contact emergency authorities.

Texting while driving increases the likelihood for an accident by 23 times, according KFOR.

Chief of Campus Police Greg Giltner said Oklahoma’s ban on texting while driving is long overdue since the issues with cell phones started years ago. Oklahoma is the 46th state to make texting while driving illegal.

“Oklahoma has been a little behind the times and we’re getting up to the standard now and it’s long overdue,” Giltner said. “It’s going to make our public roadways and highways and private roadways safer.”

Giltner said there had been a number of wrecks because people were talking, dialing and texting on their phones.

“We used to call it distracted driving and now we actually have a texting while driving ordinance, which is something that’s been needed,” Giltner said.

Senior Ethan McNeese is from Iowa, where the law prohibits texting or emailing while driving. McNeese said the law banning texting and driving in Oklahoma could help prevent people from being distracted while they drive.

“I believe it will help – I do not believe it will eliminate,” McNeese said. “Even though there are laws in place in Iowa, I know that’s still a major problem.”

Sophomore Sarah Kenney said she does not text while driving, but has encountered problems with the issue. She said the law that prohibits texting while driving is a good idea.

“I’ve almost been hit head-on by people who do text and drive,” Kenney said. “I don’t know how effective it’s going to be, if people are going to follow the rules — I think it’s a good idea though.”

Giltner said he has noticed a decrease in people on phones while driving compared to past years.

“I think already I’ve kind of noticed that not as many people text and drive, it used to be really bad,” Giltner said.

Giltner said with the new law approaching, the campus should practice not using their phones while driving.

“The campus approach is if it’s not safe to text while driving on a city street or a county road or state highway, we want that to be practiced here on campus as well,” Giltner said.

Giltner said the new law should increase safety on Oklahoma roads.

“If everybody obeys that law — it will be much safer,” Giltner said.

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