Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Valley Center City Council voted Tuesday night to draft an ordinance that will ban texting and calling on your cell phone while behind the wheel.

It's an issue that's very close to one council member's heart. Valley Center council member Kate Jackson paid a hefty price when a driver talking on a cell phone crashed into her car two years ago.

Jackson says, "I've been left with permanent disability from that accident so I will live with that for the rest of my life, and she (the other driver) got a ticket for inattentive driving which is the only thing on record right now that they can use."

Jackson suffered massive injuries including a brain injury that left her with double vision, balance problems and loss of memory.

"I think it's time we move forward," Jackson continues, "instead of waiting for the county or the state to move forward, we can always adjust ours to make it in compliance when the time comes."

Texting and talking on a cell phone has become a hot button issue. The Kansas Highway Patrol cites accident after accident caused by a driver on a cell. Valley Center City council is now considering banning cell phone use while behind the wheel.

Once that ordinance is drafted it will be brought back to the council for a vote. That should be some time in the next week couple of weeks at the council's next meeting.

The council also talked about presenting a resolution to ban cell phone use when behind the wheel to the state legislature.