JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- State Sen. Billy Hudson says he again plans a proposal to ban texting while driving.
The Hattiesburg Republican tells The Clarion-Ledger that his proposed bill would also ban cellphone use unless a hands-free device is used.
Hudson says his bill, to be considered by the 2013 Legislature, would ban all mobile phone use by drivers younger than 18.
Last year, a bill Hudson introduced died in committee.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain says he was unfamiliar with Hudson's proposal, but he said the department favors proposals to improve road safety. Strain says inattentive driving is the leading cause of traffic accidents.
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged states to ban all driver use of cellphones and other electronic devices, except in emergencies.
