Advocacy groups call for stronger texting ban in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Just six months after Oklahoma’s ban on texting and driving went into effect, advocacy groups are calling for even tougher measures to curb distracted driving.

Oklahoma was among the last states to pass a texting and driving moratorium when the Legislature passed a measure last year. Only two states – Arizona and Montana – lack texting and driving bans.

Oklahoma’s ban went into effect on Nov. 1. But The Oklahoman reports national highway safety groups believe bans like Oklahoma’s are hard to understand, harder to patrol and don’t go far enough to keep the roads safe.

Oklahoma’s ban prohibits operating a vehicle on any street or highway while using a hand-held electronic communication device to compose, send or read an electronic text message while the vehicle is in moving.