HOUSTON (FOX 26) – Texting while driving is quickly becoming a top killer here throughout Houston. It’s a matter of life or death lawmakers took up Thursday in Austin in hopes of getting it banned in the entire state.

It’s the deadly accidents you see that you’d think would be a wake up call to everyone. Fort Bend County Sheriff says sadly another teenager died not long ago from texting while driving.

“They ended up crossing the center line and struck a dump truck. The teenager was killed,” Sheriff Troy Nehls said. “The traumatic event it affected the entire school, the whole area of Ft. Bend County. And you just ask yourself: could that death could have been prevented?”

That question the sheriff says lawmakers should keep in mind with the Alex Brown Memorial Act. The proposed bill is named after a teen killed in West Texas by a distracted driver.

“The real tragedy is mom and dad being left behind and it impacts entire families. It just lasts and last forever,” Doug Mathes said.

Mathes started the organization “Finish Alive Stop Texting.” He says the numbers are quite staggering. In Harris County back in 2011 there were more than 9,000 cases and last year that number rose by almost 70 percent to more than 14,000 cases of distracted driving. Already in 2015 there are more than 1700 cases, many drivers texting,

The ban would put Texas in line with the rest of the country. 44 states have outlawed texting while driving. Opponents here have argued it imposes on someone’s rights. But Mathes says it’s the same as having wear a seat belt or not drink and drive.

The bill didn’t pass under Governor Perry. Many are waiting to see what Governor Abbott will do.

Source: My Fox Houston