Legislation for Ban on Texting While Driving gaining steam around the Country
Texting while driving is becoming trendy and dangerous. It is not uncommon to see someone text while driving these days, especially teens. Let's not forget the Blackberry Crowd. They are equally dangerous to drivers on the road. One New Hampshire Lawmaker is doing something about it, Nashua's David Campbell has filed the paperwork for a bill to ban two-handed texting or typing on any electronic or telecommunications device while driving. According to Campbell in a recent Associated Press article, "You need at least one hand to operate a motor vehicle,'' a police officer told him cell phone texting isn't the only problem. Some drivers are typing on laptop computers while behind the wheel." He seeks only to ban two-handed typing or texting.
In a recent accident involving a 17-year old, text messages were sent to and from the teen driver before the deadly crash involving a tractor trailer crash. This is any parents nightmare. Their teen dying at the wheel, while on the phone. Adults are not immune to texting while driving. According to Lynch Ryan Worker's Comp Insider Blog,"You can make a case that a vehicle can be operated safely while the driver talks on a cell phone - preferably with a head piece - but no case can be made for safe driving while the operator's eyes are actually focused on the mobile device. Texting, like alcohol, does not go with driving." I agree wholeheartedly. The cell phone providers should do more to bring awareness to the dangers of texting while driving. According to a recent study by AAA on teen texting while driving habits, nearly 46% of teens, text while driving.
Blogger, Anne Donnegan, hit it nail on the head, when she said, more people may have to die in DWT accidents, before legislators eventually see the light and pass a bill banning DWT.
Thankfully, lawmakers around the country are introducing legislation to curb this dangerous behavior. A few brave champions, such as Washington State, Phoenix and New Hampshire are writing legislation on Driving while texting.
What are your thoughts on texting while driving? Should it be illegal? What is better a fine or points on a license? The answer remains with concerned citizens. Do you want your loved one killed or injured by a driver that is texting? If not, find out if your local city or state has a ban on DWT - Driving While Texting. If not, contact your local lawmaker and suggest this legislation. Share what other cities are doing such as: Washington, Phoenix, and New Hampshire. Make a difference and let your voice be heard in the fight to end DWT accidents.
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It should be illegal as soon as possible. People can't do both and it has already caused deaths. There's simply nothing else to say about it and no other argument to be made.
I am doing a report on this issue for school and I guess I never really thought about how dangerous texting while driving was until reading all the statistics. I have never sent or recieved a text message while driving my car, but it never occurred to me that someone would be stupid enough to do it.
It definately should be illegal everywhere.
I am doing a report on this issue for school and I guess I never really thought about how dangerous texting while driving was until reading all the statistics. I have never sent or recieved a text message while driving my car, but it never occurred to me that someone would be stupid enough to do it.
It definately should be illegal everywhere.
My professor was hit by a driver who was texting. He somehow he survived but sustained several broken bones including multiple vertebrae. And, it's not like the driver was the bad person who has a record of doing bad things - in fact, she apparently is an exceptional student and does good things in her community. But, ya know, this is a very serious problem. I think the solution lies somewhere between changing the way we build our traffic environment and laws that restrict distracted drivers.
There are huge challenges with bills of this nature. First, how will a law that restricts texting be enforced? I suppose it could be, but wow! it's a big step for local law enforcement to ask for and check cell phones at traffic stops. Also, many state legislators are people who have other jobs. They get a lot of their work done by texting or using their cell phones while driving to their public offices. Convincing them to enact restrictive laws will be very difficult.
Texting while driving should be a crime, punished by loss of license, fine, and imprisonment.
"Texting while driving should be a crime, punished by loss of license, fine, and imprisonment."
Hear! Hear! People DIE because idiots are too busy texting their buddies about BS that's TOTALLY UNIMPORTANT--the law for texting while driving should be just as severe as DUI/DWI--people DIE because of impaired driving skills--doesn't matter if it's booze or inattention due to texting--the results are the same--PEOPLE DIE! How many more people need to die needlessly before all 50 states get with the program and protect our citizens from these criminals??????????????