Several lawmakers, AAA, teenagers and medical professionals spoke out against distracted driving by highlighting national statistics.
OKLAHOMA CITY -
Supporters of a "Texting While Driving" ban gathered at the
state Capitol Wednesday afternoon, to voice their support to prohibit texting
and driving at the same time.
Several lawmakers, AAA, teenagers and medical professionals
spoke out against distracted driving by highlighting national statistics.
Among those supporting the bill was Gina Harris, who
recounted the night her 19-year-old daughter, Brittanie Montgomery, died while
on the phone with her boyfriend.
2/27/2013
Related Story: Oklahoma Lawmakers Push For Ban On Texting While Driving
"She had lost control and ended
up going backwards across all four lanes of traffic and hit in her driver's
door," said Harris. "That fact that anyone else could go through what myself
and my family went through with losing Brittanie, it's really heartbreaking and
it's sad. It was hard. It was difficult."
Investigators guessed Montgomery
took her eyes off the road for about two seconds before crashing.
National statistics show others
have lived Gina Harris's story all too often. Eleven teens across the United
States die every day while using a phone in the car. Lawmakers and law
enforcement agencies Wednesday said it was time for Oklahoma to pass the ban.
Opponents argued the ban would
take away rights, but one of the bill's sponsors says texting and driving is
not a God-given right, it's a privilege.