By RONNIE ELLIS
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear issued an executive order Wednesday banning texting by state employees while driving state vehicles.
The ban carries no penalty but violations will be reported to the employee’s supervisor, Beshear said, adding that’s “not a good thing.”
Beshear said there were 53,000 vehicle crashes last year “attributable to driver distraction” resulting in 199 deaths. Acting Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said there were 15,000 injuries in those crashes and called the practice of texting while driving “incredibly dangerous.”
Several bills have been pre-filed by lawmakers banning in one form or another texting while operating motor vehicles. One by Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, would impose fines ranging from $10 to $20 but carrying no jail time or court costs.
“I am certainly going to support legislation in the General Assembly that would apply this ban across the board in Kentucky,” Beshear said.
‘I am convinced multi-media and driving do not mix,” Beshear said. “As state government, we should set an example for others while driving.”
The ban does not cover cell phone conversations because, Beshear said, drivers can keep their eyes on the roadway while talking – but not while texting.
Beshear said traffic fatalities have decreased for three consecutive years and the state is on track to see fewer deaths in 2009 than in 2008, but he thinks efforts to reduce distracted driving can help reduce those statistics still more.
Last year, there were 600 accidents involving state employees driving fleet vehicles and just under 500 in the present year. Beshear said the state doesn’t have data indicating how many of those are attributed to distracted driving.
Hancock said driver distraction is attributable to more than electronic devices – people often are observed eating, grooming, “even reading” while behind the wheel, he said.
Beshear said there are some exceptions to the order. Employees will not be reprimanded if they pull vehicles over to a safe place off the road before using electronic devices and some security personnel are exempted because of the nature of their duties, he said.
Anyone observing a driver of a state vehicle using an electronic to text or who is guilty of distracted driving may report the incident by calling 502-564-2727.
RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.
