Petition to ban texting while driving in OK

Texting and driving got a lot attention on Wednesday.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Highway Patrol teamed up with AT&T’s national No Text on Board pledge Day. 

Marquees were posted on highways in Tulsa and Oklahoma City encouraging drivers not to text and drive.

This weekend Generation tXt students will be knocking on doors encouraging registered voters to support a ban on texting while driving in Oklahoma for all drivers.  

"It doesn't matter if they are the most experienced driver or texter it still affects your skills and driving,” said Generation tXt member, Skylar Yoder. "It costs your life or someone else's and it's not okay."

That’s why teens are encouraging drivers to “Stop, Drop & Drive.”

"It's all ages,” said Yoder. "I saw an old gray haired man texting and driving the other day."

Generation tXt wants to make it illegal for anyone to text and drive in Oklahoma.

It’s been dubbed the “It’s Not OK to Text and Drive” proposal.

Currently, it is illegal for beginning drivers to text and drive in Oklahoma.

The National Safety Council reports distracted driving is as deadly as drunk driving and speeding.

Oklahoma is one of 11 states without a texting ban on all drivers.

"What people don't realize is that texting and driving kills," said Yoder.

She said as a passenger she is the designated texter.

She and Anders Broussard are Booker T. Washington High School sophomores who are part of Generation tXt.

With the support of the Crime Commission and a State Farm grant, eight BTW students founded the program three years ago, promoting safe driving with an emphasis on the hazards of texting while driving.

It is now in five schools around Green Country with 28 members.

"We are trying to help people not die,” said Broussard.

Generation tXt members hope by knocking on doors they’ll gather 5,000 signatures from registered voters who support a ban on texting while driving in Oklahoma.

"They are showing that they agree with our message. That they are not okay with it either and that they want something to change," said Broussard.

Once the signatures are collected they’ll present them in a letter of support to lawmakers when they rally at the State Capitol in February. The proposed bill would make it a misdemeanor crime to text and drive.

No state has a zero tolerance law on driving and using a cellphone. Even the toughest states still allow you to use a hands-free device.