Thread: Outlaw Texting while driving ?

I voted YES!!

Between the headphones, cigarettes, newspapers, coffee, doughnuts, applying make-up, computer, radio, filling out paper work, gps, and cell phones in rush hour traffic, who has time to drive let alone text?
I drive Boston rush hour and have seen all of this and much more!
Unfortunately common sense isn't very common when it comes to driving.

I voted "maybe." Conventional texting while driving yes. Voice activated texting maybe not.

Pinger Textfree for iPod touch and iPhone

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Predictable that you would be one of the "state's rights" guys.

Hes not alone Jimmy! Right back at ya!

I voted no, because while a lot of people don't realize it, it's already illegal in virtually every state in the US, and many other countries besides.

It's also illegal to use a cell phone without a hands free set in virtually every state in the country.

It's also illegal to eat a cheeseburger, change a diaper, or juggle chainsaws while driving.



But, VeeDubb65, what do you mean it's already illegal? I've never heard of a law that made it illegal to drive while eating a cheeseburger or juggling chainsaws!!

It's called "driving while encumbered."

Just about every state already has laws on the books that make it illegal to do ANYTHING that could get in the way of your hands while operating a motor vehicle.

We don't need a new law to make it illegal. We need cops to start enforcing the laws that are on the books.

IMO, the same goes for beating somebody to death because of the color of their skin. There's no need to pass a law making it a crime, because it's already illegal to beat somebody to death.

It would be like passing a law that made it a criminal act to commit burglary while wearing a green fedora.

My mea culpa--I sometimes text while driving, but at the same time I recognize it's a very risky thing to do. A recently released study concluded texting while driving results in a 23-fold increase in the likeihood of having an accident. It's also been evaluated as being equivalent to driving with an .08 BAC, which constitutes drunk driving in many states. Unless it's made illegal more people, like me, will continue to do it. Just human nature, I guess.
I say make it illegal-like drunk driving, and over time more and more people will stop, just like attitudes towards drinking and driving evolved as the laws became stricter and society took note...

TN just enstated the no texting while driving this month. I still see people doing it every day. I think if someone is gonna use a phone in a vehical it should be hands free (Headsets are in expensive and they are building cars bluetooth ready).

You mean it's not already illegal?
Wow...

It's illegal in the UK. If you are involved in a serious or fatal accident while texting and the cellphone company records prove it, you are looking at a long jail term. We have just had a member of the House of Lords(Upper chamber of our Parliament) jailed for texting a few minutes before a fatal motorway crash.

I don't know anything about american law, but shouldn't this come under hazardous driving anyway. Which i'm sure has an offence somewhere. Another law is not what you need, maybe an amendment to existing ones.

Besides, if a police officer catches you texting while driving he's going to pull you over.

Originally Posted by Casulo

I don't know anything about american law, but shouldn't this come under hazardous driving anyway.

You are exactly correct. In most states, it's called "driving while encumbered."

It is illegal to do anything while driving which would "encumber" you. That would include texting, using a cell phone without a hands-free set, eating a cheeseburger from the drive-through, nursing a baby* and anything else that takes your hands off of the wheel.

As far as amendments to existing laws, there is absolutely no need. All that is needed is for law enforcement and the judicial system to enforce the laws that are already on the books.


I mention nursing because believe it or not, there are actually states out there that have exceptions in their driving while encumbered laws that allow a woman to nurse an infant while driving. There was a case a couple of years ago in the news about a woman who was suing over one of these laws because she crossed state lines while nursing her baby, and was ticketed (and arrested) for driving while encumbered, endangering the welfare of a child, and not using a proper safety seat shortly after crossing the state line.