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On November 1st, a new law banning texting or using electronic devices like iPods and laptops while driving goes into effect in New York State. But Senator Chuck Schumer announced yesterday at one of his patented Sunday press conferences that he's pushing for a nationwide ban on texting. Schumer cited data showing that text-messaging while driving has resulted in almost 100 teen deaths over the last five years in the city and on Long Island.
Some 30 states still have no laws prohibiting it, and Schumer told reporters, "With this uptick in texting and distracted driving has come a scary rise in teenage driving deaths and an increase in risk to everyone who shares the road with distracted drivers." And last week the Obama administration announced intentions to ban text messaging by interstate bus drivers and truckers. However, it's unclear whether the government wants to protect its citizens from themselves (lead example: Teen falls into manhole while texting.)
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Do it now! No more discussion needed. Include the truckers, please.
Not that I'm pro-texting while driving, but I've never seen them enforce the cell phone ban, so who the hell would enforce this?
I don't care as long as I can still smoke, drink coffee & beat my kids while driving.
ban teenagers from driving. thanks.
So stupid. So all those iPod > car stereo hookups are now useless/illegal? But I can still eat a Taco Bell burrito and drive with my knees while I put on the hot sauce? It's not texting that's the problem - it's idiot drivers.
does this include using GPS devices or ipods?
there are some built-in gps systems that do not allow changes to be made unless the car is in park (good in theory, but really irritating that even a passenger cannot make changes if, say, you are stuck in traffic)
with the exception of interstate bus drivers and truckers, how would a national ban be constitutional? we don't have a national dwi law, but he thinks this will pass muster?
It would be just like the national DWI law that does exist.
A state's highway funding gets reduced if they do not adopt laws desired by Congress. This generally leads to 100% acceptance and a de facto national law.
This approach has been ruled to be Constitutional.
Tell that to New Hampshire and their rogueish lack of seatbelt legislation. Woo!
There needs to be a law banning Chuck Schumer
Seconded.
Anyone who is caught texting, or using a laptop, while driving should have their license revoked for life. They are clearly not smart enough to operate a potential lethal weapon.
Troll or dolt? It's a coinflip.
That drive is in a 2005-07 Ford Focus.
I'm torn: on one hand, these texting-related crashes are an excellent way of culling the overpopulation of idiot teens; on the other hand, one of those useless brats could hit me while texting. I say ban the practice except in situations where the teen is driving alone on an empty highway.
Yes, strong laws are needed. I found this earlier. If it doesn't convince you, nothing will.
http://www.fatherlyadviceandrants.com/texting-while-driving-is-suicide.html
I agree with the ban on texting and GPS usage (while the driver is the process of, ahem, driving the car... but I think it's ok to use while stuck in traffic or pulled over) but the iPod part is ridiculous.
I have an external iPod setup, and now I'm wondering if I'm going to get a ticket for literally operating it while I'm driving (not touching it, per se, but just for having it plugged in and playing). Yeesh.
I recently came across a blog post in consumer reports about a new free mobile phone application to help combat distracted driving called DriveSafe.ly that reads your texts and emails to you while you are driving.
It looked pretty interesting so I tried it. I have a BlackBerry and it has really helped me when I’m on the road because it keeps me from texting while driving. It works through my Bluetooth and it can actually send an auto-response to the sender. I’ve had some fun with customizing the auto-response messages. I’m not that technical but it’s easy to use. I recommend people checking out www.DriveSafe.ly