I can't believe this:texting while driving might be banned

texting - how about doing this while driving?
@mememama (3076)
United States
May 8, 2007 6:56pm CST
I'm not shocked that it's banned but that people do this in the first place. How about keeping your eyes on the road so you don't kill innocent people for a stupid message? I have never seen anyone doing this, have you seen this or texted while driving? I did see someone reading a freaking book on the freeway yesterday! http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2622194620070327 PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - New Jersey drivers who insist on sending text messages on their cell phones or personal digital assistants may find themselves on the wrong side of the law if legislators approve a new bill. The plan is in response to a recent Nationwide Insurance survey finding that one in five drivers are texting while driving, a figure that rises to about one in three among people aged 18 to 34, said Democratic Assemblyman Paul Moriarty."It's extremely dangerous," said Moriarty, one of three sponsors of the bill. "It requires you to completely take your eyes off the road. I see people driving down the street using both their thumbs to send a text message, and I can only imagine they are steering with their knees."Drivers caught texting would be fined between $100 and $250. Similar measures are being considered by three other states, Moriarty said. The measure would allow police to pull over any driver found texting while driving, a tougher approach than currently allowed under the state's ban on drivers using a mobile phone on the highway. Under that law police are only allowed to stop drivers if they are also committing another offense. Critics have asked why the bill does not also seek to outlaw other sources of driver-distraction such as coffee or food, but Moriarty said such a bill would never pass the state legislature. The bill, introduced last week, has 20 co-sponsors -- both Democrats and Republicans. It is expected to be debated in a committee during May or June and then pass to the full Assembly and the Senate whose leaders have indicated they are in favor, the assemblyman said.
2 people like this
5 responses
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
9 May 07
Pretty much I think many states and countries have banned using the phone while driving so that would include texting, and all that. I don't see how anyone could (or would want to) text while driving. Perhaps in rush hour traffic, maybe, but it takes me a while to text and I don't think I would want to do that. However, I find the law to be good and perhaps when people get tickets they will stop texting. Pablo
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
19 May 07
Thanks for the best response ;) Pablo
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
9 May 07
I hope people will stop!
1 person likes this
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
9 May 07
While, I must admit that there have been a few times that I have read text messages while driving down the road--I pull my truck over if I am going to answer it..I completely understand the need for this law....I see it all the time and I live in a small rural town so I can only imagine that the numbers rise dramatically when in larger communities. It is a shame that a law needs be passed to prevent it though! People should be able to figure out that it only takes a split second to totally miss what is going on while driving a moving vehicle...that this activity could cause another person to loose their live because of a TEXT...makes you wonder what they are thinking???
@mememama (3076)
• United States
9 May 07
I know, I never even thought about texting while driving before I read this lol.
@superchook (1786)
• Australia
12 May 07
I don't know how people can do it while driving, I don't think I could do it because I would have to take my eyes of the road for too long. If I ever have to reply to a message while I am driving. I wait until I can pull over and do it. It was just the other day, I was next to a lady at the traffic light and I saw her grab her phone and start to make a phone call. She was chatting away and when the lights went green she was still talking. We got to the next set of lights and she was still talking, the lights were red, so she started to slow down, but as we got closer the lights went to green. She didn't realise this as she was too busy talking and she was still breaking as everybody else started to go. She had nearly stopped before she realised that the lights were actually green. She could have caused an accident with this, but luckily the people behind her were watching her properly.
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
10 May 07
I've been guilty of texting while in my car, but NEVER texting while driving in th freeway or on the streets for that matter. I've texted while i was at a stop light or waiting for stop sign. I guess people are just stupid, me included
@PsychoDude (2013)
• Netherlands
9 May 07
Holding the phone at all is actually banned here, whether it is texting, calling or just holding it in your hand it is all forbidden. You shouldn't be doing anything else when driving anyways, it's a major distraction causing a lot of additional accidents.
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
9 May 07
I agree, I think all cell phones have caller id anyways, I just look at who I missed when I'm off the road and parked and call them back if I want to. I've got precious cargo in my backseat ;)