Distracted Driving.

The Illinois Legislature is considering a measure that would amend the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code to specifically prohibit text messaging while driving. HB0072 provides that a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message.

This change was one of "Matt's" laws, so named after Matthew Willhelm. Mr. Wilhelm was 25 when he was killed while riding his bicycle on the shoulder of a road outside of Urbana. The teenage driver who killed Matt was attempting to download new ringtones for her cell phone when she veered off the road so far that she struck Matt from behind with the driver's side of her car. The driver was only charged with improper lane usage and given a fine of $1,000.