With a 10-2 vote and no discussion, Toledo City Council Tuesday afternoon approved a ban on texting while driving in city limits.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner on Aug. 21 announced the proposed law and urged council to approve the measure.

Under the proposal, texting in Toledo while driving would be a primary offense, meaning a police officer could stop a motorist who is seen sending or reading text messages.

In Ohio, a half-dozen similar bills were introduced this summer. Some have proposed a ban on texting while driving and others have called for a ban on hand-held cell-phone use for young drivers.

An attempt to ban hand-held cell phones in Bowling Green failed in May.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have banned text messaging while driving. Six states prohibit talking on hand-held cell phones while driving.

A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute recently concluded that texting increases by 23 times the risk of a collision or close call for truck drivers.

First Published November 24, 2009, 9:37 p.m.