States Consider Another Ban: Driving While Texting

Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:24PM EDT

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In my very dense state of New Jersey, legislators are considering yet another ban during driving. This time it's not just talking on cell phones, it's texting. And unlike talking on cell phones, which can only be cited by a police officer if he pulls you over for another infraction, officers would be able to pull drivers over specifically for texting if they spot them doing it while driving many miles per hour.

Drivers caught texting would be fined between $100 and $250, according to the bill that has 20 co-sponsors in both parties.

New Jersey is not alone on this one. At least three other states, including Washington, Arizona, and Connecticut, are considering similar legislation. Washington's state House passed a bill after a December pileup on a Seattle highway that police say was caused by a driver texting on a BlackBerry.

I'm sure most of us are guilty of talking on cell phones while driving, even if you live in a state where it is banned. Yet studies show again and again, it's a dangerous thing to do. And there's no difference if you're using a hands-free device; it's the brain activity that counts. Researchers have found talking on the phone while driving cuts the driver's brain activity in half in the areas of the brain needed to notice what's happening around him on the road.

So just imagine what happens to brain activity when a driver is focusing on punching out letters with his thumbs while driving on a highway or local roads. Yikes. I don't think another law is going to dissuade wired drivers from texting, but maybe more stories like the one about a Denver teen who accidentally killed a 63-year bicyclist while texting on his phone will. Patrick Sims, the remorseful high school senior, told CBS News in the fall: "I think about this car accident every single day of my life."

Admit it: Do you text on your cell phones while driving? If so, what will take you to stop—a law, a devastating accident, or, how about this, common sense?

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Comments on States Consider Another Ban: Driving While Texting

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  • 26 Posted by ornelle@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    i find it hard to believe that deaf people are allowed to drive. Oh, yeah, the disabled have more rights than the rest of us.

  • 27 Posted by angelcruse@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think people who txt while driving should not be able drive at all!!!! If they get caught the punishmet should be take their vehicle and their cell phones away for good... I watched this 17 year old girl txt while driving, she ran into this mans brand new retaining wall and bent the rebarb...she tried to blam it on some crazy driver that ran her off the road.. when the police arived and saw the accident they asked the girl if she had cell phone she said yes the police officer asked to see it and found her txting someone... not only did she lie to the police she lied to her insurance company.. The girl should have her licence revoked !!!! To many kids these days as well as adults cant understand that driving is a previlage not a givin...

  • 28 Posted by pistolefarm7957@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    I WILL PULL OVER IF POSSIBLE IN A SAFE PLACE AND RETURN THE PHONE CALL. BUT...THEN I AND 75 YEARS OLD...AND DON'T TELL ME I SHOULD NOT EVEN BE DRIVING: I HAVE A GOOD DRIVING RECORD.

  • 29 Posted by timmaciolek@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    The problem isn't so much with texting, talking on the cellphone, or any other distractions...it seems to me that the real problem is that most people apparently don't have a sense of priorities in their activities. It would seem obvious that driving and the road need to come first and all other considerations after that, no matter if the phone must be dropped (perhaps damaged) or that whopper with cheese ends up in your lap, in order to attend to that first priority. Those that can't make that distinction will ruin it for those who can as "big brother state" comes in and takes more choices away in the guise of keeping us "safe". Isn't lowest common denominator rule the greatest .

  • 30 Posted by corgican@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    I drive while driving. If any of these people texting and on celphones have ever been in a bad car accident they would tuck their devices away and pay attention to the road. Car accidents can change your life in a heart beat and no message is important enough to be made in a moving vehicle.

  • 31 Posted by ocron@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't have a cellphone or blackberry and as far as I'm concerned they should all be banned while driving. Why let more people be killed by some fool doing the above.

  • 32 Posted by esopers@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Make it a law. Not that I think it will do much good but at least the person doing it will know they are breaking the law and possible damage they can do and of course the fine. I think it should be more and the insurance co.s ought to be aware of the cost to insure a stupid driver...

  • 34 Posted by llembke8@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    On October 26th, 2006 my best friend was texting her boyfriend on the freeway. She looked down to read a text, and while replying, she looked back up and was nearly rear-ending the car in front of her. She swerved. She barely missed the car in front of her but instead, took her own car into the ditch going 65mph (which was the speed limit). Her car rolled 3 times and her body was ejected through the closed sunroof. She broke 3 ribs & an arm and fractured her hip & her spine in 2 places. Today, she's in a wheelchair. She goes back & forth between home & the hospital doing therapy. With no feeling from the waist down, no one knows if she will ever be able to walk again. She's only 19 years old. I'll admit it. I have texted while driving before, something that I thought was harmless. But seeing my best friend's life destroyed because of something so petty, something that could have easily been prevented made me realize that even the risk, is not worth it.

  • 35 Posted by spacebywd@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    States Consider Another Ban: Driving While Texting? Maybe states should first consider how they have not been able to control "Driving While Talking on Cell Phones". I honestly believe that more people are talking on hand-held cell phones while driving than ever before. These people don't care about "bans" . . . that's for the "other" people! The arrogance of people in this country regarding laws and bans not pertaining to them, will unfortunately continue to result in accidents and possibly fatal ones. And let's be realistic. People will still drink and drive, people will still drive and talk on hand-held phones, and people will still drive and text message. Our only hope is that the "other" people don't.

  • 36 Posted by reins22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    How will a police officer or other law enforcement individual know if you are sending a text, or just dialing the phone?

  • 37 Posted by varsitycheerchick13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yikes! i text alll the time while driving! oops! lol...well actually i never text while driving fast..and also i no longer need to look at the keyboard to text..i can just feel it in my fingers Chels!

  • 38 Posted by judi2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I did it once and nearly drove off the freeway! Never again, well maybe in traffic jam but never when moving!

  • 39 Posted by phxrattleraz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    While I am against further government infringement on people's rights, those who can't show good judgement and decision making should be punished by being legislated. Common sense should dictate their actions; if not, sure, let the government do it. At least they won't be hitting me while they are texting a joke to their friends.

  • 40 Posted by super_mama06 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes!!!!!!!!! It is no difference if you use phone or hands-free device. Your brain is what involved in it. And text messaging wile driving is off limits, no doubts. In fact, if I could, I'd banned cell phone use for all drivers except those who need it for business use.(my daughter wrecked her car just a months after she got her driver license because she was talking on cell phone wile driving in snow blizzard)

  • 41 Posted by compton2353 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am a big Texter, & i text & drive all the time. & i have never been in a wreck all my 28yrs of life. Whats the big deal??? As long as you are careful, pay attention?

  • 42 Posted by euromonica on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I showed this to my husband. We disagree on this often. Me being the one saying it's dangerous. Now, he leaves his cell phone at home when we go out. I bring mine since I don't care to use it often and rarely text anyhow. People don't realize that they put pedestrians and other motorists at risk when they text. Look at what happened to Niki Taylor, she almost died when the driver reached for a dropped cell phone. Thanks for bringing up this topic!

  • 43 Posted by aprilnkay2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think this in a good idea, but we have more things to worry about,,, hello,, WE ARE AT WAR PEOPLe...

  • 44 Posted by kevinoconnellmd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a young adult with a cellphone, I still make the choice to not talk on it unless it is an emergency. Why do we as a society feel the need to be on the phone to our friends 24/7? What is possibly that important that we can't drive home without talking on the phone? It's one thing if there is a problem or an emergency....in that case, use some common sense and pull off the road and quit endangering my life along with everyone elses!!!

  • 45 Posted by pixie_twix@sbcglobal.net on Tue May 8, 2007 6:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    To be honest..I don't talk on my phone when I'm driving...But the thought that people TEXT?? That never even crossed my mind that people could be that bloody stupid?? Maybe the old ..lets say lady and be nice...who took the front off my SUV while running a red light while on her cell thought that was OK..My 3 kids..5, 8, 9 thought different..when they got out of the hospital that was..Cell phone users....please..DONT..we eurvived...the people you hit might not..

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