AUGUSTA, Ga. - Law enforcers say it's a dangerous habit, texting while driving.

In fact, some say it's the same as driving drunk.

An Aiken representative is working on a bill that would ban texting while driving.

In Georgia, a bill will be introduced to ban cell phone use behind the wheel altogether.

NBC Augusta 26 News decided to give three drivers an up close and personal look on just how dangerous driving while texting can be.

26 News tested three people's reaction time while driving and texting at a training course in Augusta.

While on the "road", drivers had to stay within these cones and stop at this red light.

Each driver typed three phrases while maintaining a speed of 35-miles per hour.

Denise Tortorete’s first time around the course, she didn’t text.

She managed to stop in time.

Then Tortorete drove while texting.

"It was just confusing- I texted the wrong person and then that red light, which oops-I ran,” said Tortorete.

Tortorete also says she wasn't aware of her surroundings.

"I was looking to make sure I was going the speed limit, I was trying to go down that hill and then I was trying to text and all I was looking was ahead- I wasn't looking right to left," said Tortorete.

Driver two, Caitlyn Tudor, also texted while driving.

She also flew right through the red light.

"When you think about the cones being other people on the road, it's a lot more difficult. You worry about running over a cone or stopping at a red light which obviously I didn't do," said Tudor.

Our third driver, Johnny Ryder, did manage to follow the course and stop at the red light while texting and driving.

Ryder says it wasn't easy.

"It was difficult to stop after looking down trying to text and look up to follow the cones," said Ryder.

While this was just a drill, the roads are real life

Our three drivers say the course served its purpose giving them a reality check about the dangers of texting while driving.

If these texting laws are passed in Georgia and South Carolina they would join 18 other states that have banned texting while driving, either for teens or all drivers.

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