Texting & driving signs could be bigger

DAPHNE, Alabama (WALA) - Signs telling drivers not to text and drive are now posted, but leaders say the markers could have been bigger. In November 2010, the city council passed a measure banning texting and driving.

Drivers say Daphne no texting and driving signs are great investment, but hard to read.

There are 19 signs posted at every major thoroughfare within city limits.

"I think it is a very good thing," said driver Jason Williams.

But drivers say the signs are hard to see.

"It probably could be bigger," said driver Takia Houston.

The Daphne City Council passed the no texting and driving ordinance back in November.

The ordinance required city workers to put the signs up within 30 days.

But drivers say the markers could easily be overlooked.

Public Works director Richard Johnson says he has addressed that concern.

"That is a standard federally issued sign, 18 by 24. But I think, with the importance of the message, a bigger size would be what we want," said Johnson.

But leaders say no matter how big the signs may or may not be, texting and driving in Daphne is against the law.

"We really want to get the message out that texting and driving is not safe. So having a bigger sign may be an idea for the future," said Johnson.

Police officers can't ticket motorists simply for texting and driving.

The citation has to be written with another traffic violation like speeding.

Police say they have not written any tickets yet for breaking the new law.

According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, 30 states, D.C. and Guam have ban text messaging for all drivers.

Eleven of the text laws were enacted in 2010. Twenty-six states, D.C. and Guam have primary enforcement. In the other four, texting bans are secondary.

Some states such as Maine, New Hampshire and Utah treat cell phone use and texting as part of a larger distracted driving issue.

In Utah, cellphone use is an offense only if a driver is also committing some other moving violation other than speeding.

To see the laws by state, click here .