Champaign couple heartened by pending texting law
It has been three years since Chuck and Gloria Wilhelm formerly of Champaign, IL, lost their son when he was struck by a car while riding his bike on Illinois 130.
After the death of their son, Matt 25, in Sept 2006, The Wilhelms, along with their family and friends and scores of others, pushed the Illinois legislature to toughen the penatlies for drivers who were distracted while driving.
Today, Governor Quinn, will sign into law, a ban on texting while driving. "This is a big stride," says Chuck Wilhelm. Both him and his wife have campaigned for new laws to restrict the use of cell phones by drivers since the death of their son.
On Sept 6, 2006, Matt, then 25, was a U OF I graduate in mechanical engineering. He was riding his bicycle along 130 east of Urbana, when Jennifer Stark hit him from behind with her car. She confessed to downloading ringtones at the time when she hit Matt.
The legislature had problems with making texting while dirving a misdemeanor or felony. This new legislation makes texting while driving a petty traffic offense. Drivers caught texting while driving will be fined.
Wilhelm said that Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, was instrumental in getting the legislation passed. White formed a task force that investgated distracted driving. They issued their report in 2008 which revealed the negative affects on area roadways of distracted drivers.
"This is a major starting point in saying you can't do it," Chuck Wilhelm said.
