Texas legislators remain steadfastly opposed (for the most part) to any efforts to issue a state wide ban on distracted driving or the use of handheld devices by drivers, but they are seriously considering making sobriety check points mandatory across the state.

This seems odd, especially considering recent reports which show that distracted driving is now responsible for more traffic fatalities than driving under the influence of alcohol. It also seems to fly in the face of their previous arguments against a statewide ban on distracted driving that these matters are best left to be decided by municipalities; statewide laws go too far.

The legislators are also considering allowing police to conduct more “No Refusal Weekends” which means that drivers requested by police to submit to a sobriety test must submit or face suspension of their driving privileges. These tools have proven very effective for police in the past but they are limited to how often they can conduct them. The Texas legislators are now seriously considering allow them to conduct them at will or as needed in an effort to force more drivers to sober up before getting behind the wheel.

Texas has seen a slight decline in the number of drunk drivers in recent years but it still sees far more drunk drivers than any other state. Texas has wrestled with a populace which has seen so much drunk driving they seem inured to it; unwilling or incapable of changing the majority. The recent legislative push was brought about by public outcry from those who do see the issue as a statewide problem. In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been very vocal in their support of a more vigorous approach to enforcement of existing laws and enabling police to better do their jobs when it comes to getting drunk drivers off the street.