Texting while driving

[*Fantasia*]

Texting and talking on the phone is a distraction.. Looking at your GPS for directions is a distraction. I notice they swirve, drive on the white lines, don't use their signal, don't go when it's green, still driving and it's already red!! driving slooow.. They drive as if they're drunk! Impaired!

 

[TeresaBelle]

If a text had been sent by that phone they can trace the time was sent.

True! Duh, I didn't think of that!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

What if the penalty was forfeiture of your car? Too harsh?

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I believe there should be a huge fine for any offense and jail time for repeat offenses for texting while driving. They should also be forced to watch that Oprah episode about texting and driving because it is so eye-opening.

Now, for DUI, I think there should be some revisions to punishments. I'd like to see someone be sentenced to 8 hours chained to a guardrail on the highway while semi trucks and other motorists go speeding by them.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Seven Pounds...

 

[FireDancer]

What if the penalty was forfeiture of your car? Too harsh?

I think it is a bit harsh, at least for a first offense.

Now, if a death is caused the person should be charged the same way as with a fatal DUI accident. I believe this is usually some sort of manslaughter charge depending on jurisdiction.

 

[Feralpeg]

A law has been proposed in Florida that would make use of a cell phone, while driving a car, illegal. Unfortunately, law enforcement will not be able to pull anyone over for this, but will be allowed to ticket if they pull the driver over for another offense and see that they are using a cell phone. I'm hoping that they will pull them over for not having their cars under control. I see people swerving all the time when using cell phones. Maybe, eventually, just seeing them on a cell phone will be grounds for pulling someone over. That is what happened with the seat belt law.

I agree with others. The offense should be handled like a DUI.

 

[dawson5]

http://cbs5.com/national/Deborah.Matis.Engle.2.976140.html

They pulled her records to prove that is what she was doing prior to the accident.

I think this might be something that will become more of the norm--checking cell usage prior to an accident.


Personally I would love to see some of our cellular providers offer an option for turning off texting, especially for parents. (We have Sprint right now, we don't have this option that I know of) I know I can turn off their internet access on the phones. I would love to be able to turn off the texting ability too. We have had this conversation with our 17 yr old but sometimes you just want to be sure. Especially if they are just starting out driving.

 

[Art 1]

Loss of diving privilege for one year.

 

[FireDancer]

http://cbs5.com/national/Deborah.Matis.Engle.2.976140.html

They pulled her records to prove that is what she was doing prior to the accident.

I think this might be something that will become more of the norm--checking cell usage prior to an accident.


Personally I would love to see some of our cellular providers offer an option for turning off texting, especially for parents. (We have Sprint right now, we don't have this option that I know of) I know I can turn off their internet access on the phones. I would love to be able to turn off the texting ability too. We have had this conversation with our 17 yr old but sometimes you just want to be sure. Especially if they are just starting out driving.

A coworker has her daughters' phones restricted from sending or receiving text messages. They are on Verizon and are part of a family plan.

 

[LoraJ]

That Oprah episode is on now here.

 

[Mr Nice Guy]

By and large people are not good drivers and to add any distraction to a complex task isn't very smart.

 

[dawson5]

A coworker has her daughters' phones restricted from sending or receiving text messages. They are on Verizon and are part of a family plan.

We get a 23% discount for Sprint through his work. They've been great for keeping up on things, hopefully that is something they plan for the near future.

I do trust my son but I understand peer pressure and you sometimes just want to take that wild card out of the picture. From what we've seen, he is pretty adamant about no phone usage in a moving vehicle by the driver.

 

[MrsPete]

The health teachers at my school used to do a drinking-and-driving thing at school every year. The police'd come out and let kids wear the beer goggles while driving a golf cart. They'd do it during lunch, and all the kids'd come out to see it happening in the parking lot.

This year they started doing a TEXTING AND DRIVING thing instead.

Why? Because one of the health teachers asked her seniors, "How many people here at school would you expect drink and drive?" They answered that almost no one does that. Don't get me wrong -- they're drinking -- but this generation has heard the designated driver message loud and clear. But then she asked them, "How many people here at school would you expect text and drive?" They said EVERYONE TEXTS while driving . . . over 90%

I was shocked. Teens see NOTHING wrong with this. My own daughter (who has only a learner's permit) doesn't do it because I'm with her, but I'm very worried that she'll do it when I 'm not with her -- she thinks I'm over-protective on that front. Some of the younger teachers do it too. What could they be thinking?

And something else my daughter and I argue about: Is texting at a stop light okay? I say resoundingly NO. You're behind the wheel, and that deserves your attention. You need to be alert when the light turns green, and you'll be tempted to "just finish up" that short message.


I agree with those who say that texting while driving should carry the same penalty as DUI. The two are quite similar.

 

[MM27]

while texting is a huge problem, I drive 45 miles to work every day and have seen people on the road eating cereal in the morning, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, shaving, you name it. I think the police should be able to pull over and ticket all of those people. Steering with your knees while you hold a bowl and a spoon in your hands to eat to me is no safer than texting.

 

[FireDancer]

while texting is a huge problem, I drive 45 miles to work every day and have seen people on the road eating cereal in the morning, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, shaving, you name it. I think the police should be able to pull over and ticket all of those people. Steering with your knees while you hold a bowl and a spoon in your hands to eat to me is no safer than texting.

I believe these people could be given tickets for distracted driving. That is something that needs to be enforced more also.

 

[beattyfamily]

while texting is a huge problem, I drive 45 miles to work every day and have seen people on the road eating cereal in the morning, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, shaving, you name it. I think the police should be able to pull over and ticket all of those people. Steering with your knees while you hold a bowl and a spoon in your hands to eat to me is no safer than texting.

Add putting an address into your GPS, brushing your hair etc...

All as distracting in the car as texting although not as long term as being drunk in the car.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

My mom's best friend's DD ran off the road and hit a tree while texting. She wasn't wearing her seatbelt and she died. She was 18, just starting at college...basically just starting her life.

I go past where the accident happend daily...it is only minutes from my house. That is a reminder enough to me about texting and driving. She might have survived if she was wearing her seatbelt...so it was a tragedy on many levels. I have talked to my DS, who is 9, about this many times...and he already gets it...both on texting and seatbelt use.

I don't think there is anything so important that you need to text while you are driving, and if it is, you can pull over. I agree that the fines/punishement should be like a DUI...it is just as deadly.

 

[daughtersrus]

while texting is a huge problem, I drive 45 miles to work every day and have seen people on the road eating cereal in the morning, reading newspapers, putting on makeup, shaving, you name it. I think the police should be able to pull over and ticket all of those people. Steering with your knees while you hold a bowl and a spoon in your hands to eat to me is no safer than texting.

The worst one that I saw was a lady driving down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago eating Chinese food with chopsticks during rush hour. The "S" turn at Oak Street Beach is dangerous as it is with two hands on the wheel.

 

[SnowWhite607]

the Oprah show said that if you drive drunk you are 4 times more likely to have an accident. If you TALK on your cell, you are also 4 times more likely to have an accident. But if you TEXT while driving, you are EIGHT times more likely to have an accident.

All the people on there who had lost loved ones were heartbreaking. And the one little girl who was killed when her school bus was hit by someone who was texting and caught on fire. I wanted to cry b/c all I could think of was my DD.