Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

Coral Springs officials, spurred into action by a group of high school students who are discussing possible ways to stop texting while driving, are contemplating bringing in an ordinance to deal with the issue.

Mayor Scott Brook said he would like the city to do something by January as the state laws may not pass until July. “[An ordinance] might help the movement [for a ban on texting while driving] across the state. I had brought up this issue a year ago. I am hopeful that we will have support.”

Earlier, Laura Glicksman, a member of the city’s high school student advisory committee, informed city officials the group wanted to create awareness among people in the community about the dangers of texting.

“Texting while driving is a great concern among many people in the community," Glicksman said. “It is one of the main reasons for accidents. People aren’t aware how dangerous it is. Teens do it more than anyone else. We want to focus on them. We have plans to have presentations on the subject at all the high schools in the city.”

Nedra Lyons, city parks and recreation coordinator, said the students on the committee had discussed doing something similar to Hands Across America to focus attention on the issue. “They talked about doing it around Coral Springs, but that was not feasible. They want to do something like that in high schools.”

Parkland recently passed an ordinance banning texting while driving within the city. Broward Sheriff's Office, however, can only warn erring drivers because the city is yet to get the Attorney General’s opinion on the issue.