Teens Take-On Legislature To Ban Texting While Driving

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Lincoln, NE: Momentum is building to ban texting while driving in Nebraska. And you might surprised by who's leading the charge- teenagers. Tuesday several Benson High Students pack the capital building supporting such a bill.

They were inspired by a startling YouTube video warning teens about texting and driving. It's a public service announcement from British Columbia. It not only put the brakes on the Benson High kids from doing it, but accelerated them to the legislature- to change the law. Jillian Humphries spoke before the Nebraska Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. The student believes, "Making texting and driving illegal will be a good first step in eliminating distracted driving in Nebraska."

State Senator John Harms is driving LB 945. The proposed bill would make it illegal for a driver to text while operating a vehicle. Already, 19 states including the District of Columbia ban text messaging for all drivers. Fifteen states make it a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull you over if you're caught typing while driving. It is a secondary offense in four states. Senator Harms says, research shows someone who sends a text message while driving on average spends 4.6 seconds looking down typing that text. Drivers that text are six times more likely to crash than someone paying attention to the road.

Rob Reynolds spoke to the committee, "My daughter, Cady Ann Reynolds was killed by a distracted 16-year-old driver," he begins. Cady Reynolds died in 2007 when a driver ran a red light. "My daughter had the right of way and the other girl did not look up to see the red light and hit her car," explains Cady's father. Now her dad, Rob Reynolds is making it his mission to join the Benson High students in the movement to ban texting while driving in Nebraska.

No one spoke opposing LB 945 bill during Tuesday's committee meeting. Proposed punishments for those caught texting while driving: first offense: a $200 fine, second offense: $300 fine and third offense: $500 fine and points off your record.

Stay with Action 3 News for new developments with LB 945.

Reported By: Liz Dorland, ldorland@action3news.com