Filed by Michael Cross in Feature, Health, Local News, News, Politics.
January 21, 2010

Governor Henry signs an executive order banning state employees from texting while driving.

As of February First, state workers will be banned from texting while driving state vehicles, texting while driving private vehicles on state time or using state issued equipment to text while driving.

The Governor says we’re talking about people traveling on highways at high rate of speed in a vehicle weighing 2,000 or more.

“With one hand on the steering wheel and one hand holding an electronic device trying to read a message and type back a message on a very small keyboard.”

Governor Henry says the practice of sending and receiving messages behind the wheel is a recipe for disaster.

“Statistics in Oklahoma indicate that texting while driving is very, very dangerous. People have lost their lives.”

Nineteen other states and the District of Columbia currently ban text messaging while driving.

The Governor says anyone caught violating the executive order will face punishment to be determined by the heads of the department.