MIDWESTERN NEWS ZONE......

AAA Chicago is applauding Gov. Quinn and Illinois legislators for their commitment to keep Illinois roads safe by passing HB0071 into law, which bans text messaging while driving for all drivers. With the passage of this bill into law, Illinois joins 13 other states and the District of Columbia to expressly prohibit texting while driving for all drivers.

“There are no two ways about it, texting takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your mind off driving, which is a potent combination on the road,” said Brad Roeber, president of AAA Chicago. “We’re proud that Illinois continues to advocate for safe roads through the passage of this law.”

According to AAA Chicago, the data on texting while driving is clear.

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some type of driver distraction. According to the study, cell phone use – including texting – was one of the principal distractions that led to crashes.

The law carries the support of AAA members as well. A 2008 survey of AAA members across Illinois found that 92 percent of respondents support a law that bans texting while driving for all members. Furthermore, in the same survey, distracted driving was AAA members’ second biggest traffic safety concern, second only to drunk driving.