County employees will no longer be able to text or e-mail while driving county vehicles under an executive order issued Wednesday by County Executive Kenneth Ulman.

The order takes effect immediately and is similar to a statewide ban on text messaging passed by the state legislature that goes into effect Oct. 1.

Ulman’s order goes beyond just sending text messages or e-mails, which is covered under the state law.

The county regulations also prohibit employees from reading texts or e-mails while driving.

“The research and statistics are there: distracted driving causes accidents,” Ulman said in a statement. “And since we have this knowledge and see it every day when we are on the road, government must do its part in making our roadways safer.”

In his order, Ulman said drive inattention causes an estimated 80 percent of car crashes and roughly 65 percent of near-miss accidents. Driver inattention kills an estimated 34,000 people a year, his order states.

Ulman announced the order Thursday while attending a meeting of the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation.

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