Texting Whie Driving and the NTSB

[TMF]

Driver was texting in Missouri traffic pileup - Yahoo! News

In my opinion, texting while driving should be in the same category as DUI since it is equally or more dangerous. So now the NTSB is recommending that it should be banned for commercial drivers. Would it be overstepping to go so far as to recommend a Federal ban for regular drivers? How would that work for state issued licenses?

[Guest WyattEarp]

they need to come up with something like what they do at NFL games when you have your cell phone.

if you go in Titans stadium, you can't watch another game on your cell phone (i.e through Verizon) because of agreements between the NFL and Verizon.

someone should come up with something that when your cell phone is recognized as being in motion and on the highway or a city/county road, it can't send text messages or browse the web, but it can still use the gps feature and the phone for calls. I know someone out there is smart enough to do it, although I'm sure the damn hackers will find a way to disable it by rooting the phone or something, but worth a try. I don't know how it would differentiate between a driver and a non-driver though.

texting is dangerous while driving, as you said TMF, it slows traffic down and puts people at risk.

[TMF]

Drunk Driving News: Texting More Dangerous Than DUI

Shocking Texting While Driving Statistics - DUI in the News - The Atlanta DUI News Blog

Studies Show Texting While Driving Worse Than Drunk Driving - Massachusetts DUI Lawyer Blog

News Headlines

Texting While Driving: How Dangerous is it? - Feature - Car and Driver

The take away was that texters were 3-4 times slower on reaction time than a drunk and 23 times more likely to be in a crash than a non-distracted, non-impaired driver. It's sad that a drunk driver is the lesser of two evils. It's even sadder than somehow drunk driving is so heavily vilified and texting while driving is considered to be an okay practice and is waaaaay more common. I can't drive more than a few minutes without seeing someone doing this.

[daddyo]

We don't believe that more gun laws will reduce violent crime, so why is it that we believe a ban on texting while driving will somehow reduce highway accidents? Aren't there already laws against it?

[TMF]

We don't believe that more gun laws will reduce violent crime, so why is it that we believe a ban on texting while driving will somehow reduce highway accidents? Aren't there already laws against it?

Because the gun laws we're against don't target the criminals, they target the general public. I have no problem with gun laws that go after unlawful use or possession of firearms.

By your logic drunk driving shouldn't be against the law since there are laws against it, but hey, people still do it. Why bother?

Texting while driving is more dangerous to motorists than drunk driving. If someone is doing it they should be punished the same or even more so. If they injure or kill another motorist while doing it then they should suffer heavy penalties the same as if someone was drunk or under the influence of drugs while driving. It's negligent, irresponsible and doesn't take into account the safety of others. It's like setting up a shooting range without a backstop. You may not mean to hit someone with your rounds, but because of your gross negligence you're gonna be held accountable for where those rounds go.

[Murgatroy]

they need to come up with something like what they do at NFL games when you have your cell phone.

if you go in Titans stadium, you can't watch another game on your cell phone (i.e through Verizon) because of agreements between the NFL and Verizon.

someone should come up with something that when your cell phone is recognized as being in motion and on the highway or a city/county road, it can't send text messages or browse the web, but it can still use the gps feature and the phone for calls. I know someone out there is smart enough to do it, although I'm sure the damn hackers will find a way to disable it by rooting the phone or something, but worth a try. I don't know how it would differentiate between a driver and a non-driver though.

texting is dangerous while driving, as you said TMF, it slows traffic down and puts people at risk.

So you can't text as a passenger?

[Mike.357]

We don't need more laws.

Obviously texting and driving is dangerous. Making it more illegal will not do much.

We need less intrusiveness by the .gov.

I would suggest a campaign of education about the dangers oftexting and driving.

Drinking and driving is illegal. Those that want to do it continue on their illegal path. Education about doing it and its dangers has reduced the frequency of it.

Edited December 13, 2011 by Mike.357

[Garufa]

For what it's worth it is illegal in Tennessee.

[DaveTN]

We already have laws against it in this state. Not only is texting illegal but if you kill someone in a crash (that’s not an “accidentâ€) its’ vehicular homicide.

The 19 year old in that story paid for his mistake with his life. Unfortunately he took the life of another and injured 38 others.

[Photoguy67]

FWIW Texting or talking on a cell phone with out a hands free device in a commercial vehicle is illegal and carries a $2700 dollar fine. I personally believe that if you want something stopped make it illegal and set the fine so high that people fear it. Tell some one there is a $20 fine and they say "yeah so?", but tell them $2700 and they say "holy crap!" I am not doing that!! Just my humble opinion.

[daddyo]

Because the gun laws we're against don't target the criminals, they target the general public. I have no problem with gun laws that go after unlawful use or possession of firearms.

By your logic drunk driving shouldn't be against the law since there are laws against it, but hey, people still do it. Why bother?

Texting while driving is more dangerous to motorists than drunk driving. If someone is doing it they should be punished the same or even more so. If they injure or kill another motorist while doing it then they should suffer heavy penalties the same as if someone was drunk or under the influence of drugs while driving. It's negligent, irresponsible and doesn't take into account the safety of others. It's like setting up a shooting range without a backstop. You may not mean to hit someone with your rounds, but because of your gross negligence you're gonna be held accountable for where those rounds go.

I guess my point is this: Do laws do anything to deter the behavior?

[daddyo]

We already have laws against it in this state. Not only is texting illegal but if you kill someone in a crash (that’s not an “accident”) its’ vehicular homicide.

The 19 year old in that story paid for his mistake with his life. Unfortunately he took the life of another and injured 38 others.

A great example of a law that had no effect on the behavior.

[TMF]

I guess my point is this: Do laws do anything to deter the behavior?

Yes. There are lots of people walking around because it's against the law to kill them or cause them serious injury. Some of us who are a little more morally flexible than others need laws to abide by. I've seen what a consequence free environment looks like. It ain't pretty. Just because someone has the capacity to break laws doesn't mean they will if they understand the consequences of it. I'm an example of that I believe. Of course people will still do it, but it will come with a penalty which will probably keep them from doing it again. Go to any military base for example. No one talks on the phone while driving. No one. You'll see cars pulled off the side of the road so they can take a phone call or make one. The reason is that they're driving privilages are REVOKED as a penalty. Here is an example of people modifying their behavior to prevent being punished by the law.

Not to turn this into a "for the children" plea, but I have kids. I was almost hit head on a few months back from some stupid chick in her SUV who was texting away. My two year old was in the car. I swerved and honked my horn to which she overcorrected and nearly crashed into a light pole. I wanted to turn around so I could chew her a new one. This stuff is dangerous and people are getting killed so the morons of the world can't wait a few minutes to send a text. Next time you're on the interstate start looking around at the other motorists. You would be shocked how many you'll see texting away and not looking at the road. It needs to stop.

[TMF]

Tell some one there is a $20 fine and they say "yeah so?", but tell them $2700 and they say "holy crap!" I am not doing that!! Just my humble opinion.

This is how I feel about violent crime with a deadly weapon (firearms included) and illegal possession of a weapon (like felons). If the penalties were so severe then the gangbangers might think twice about picking up a handgun. Instead they might get a year tacked on to a sentence or they don't even bother filing additional charges.

[daddyo]

.

Edited December 13, 2011 by DaddyO

[daddyo]

Yes. There are lots of people walking around because it's against the law to kill them or cause them serious injury. Some of us who are a little more morally flexible than others need laws to abide by. I've seen what a consequence free environment looks like. It ain't pretty. Just because someone has the capacity to break laws doesn't mean they will if they understand the consequences of it. I'm an example of that I believe. Of course people will still do it, but it will come with a penalty which will probably keep them from doing it again. Go to any military base for example. No one talks on the phone while driving. No one. You'll see cars pulled off the side of the road so they can take a phone call or make one. The reason is that they're driving privilages are REVOKED as a penalty. Here is an example of people modifying their behavior to prevent being punished by the law.

Not to turn this into a "for the children" plea, but I have kids. I was almost hit head on a few months back from some stupid chick in her SUV who was texting away. My two year old was in the car. I swerved and honked my horn to which she overcorrected and nearly crashed into a light pole. I wanted to turn around so I could chew her a new one. This stuff is dangerous and people are getting killed so the morons of the world can't wait a few minutes to send a text. Next time you're on the interstate start looking around at the other motorists. You would be shocked how many you'll see texting away and not looking at the road. It needs to stop.

But you're proving my point. The law didn't make any difference in the girl's behavior who almost hit you. The law would have done you little good had she succeeded in hitting you head on.

I'm not saying texting and driving is a good thing, I'm just saying that the law doesn't prevent people from doing it any more than a "gunbuster" sign prevents people from entering the establishment packing heat.

[Guest nicemac]

I have a new iPhone 4S. All I have to do is to speak and the software (Siri) creates and sends the text for me. I never have to look at the phone, touch a key, or be anymore distracted than talking to a passenger. Technically, I am texting. Is that illegal?

[TMF]

But you're proving my point. The law didn't make any difference in the girl's behavior who almost hit you. The law would have done you little good had she succeeded in hitting you head on.

So should there be no law against murder since people are going to do it anyway?

[daddyo]

So should there be no law against murder since people are going to do it anyway?

I don't believe I said that anywhere in any of my posts.

Did the texting and driving law prevent the girl from texting and driving?

[strickj]

I guess my point is this: Do laws do anything to deter the behavior?

No. Numerous studies have found that anti-texting laws actually increases accidents. Without texting laws, people text openly, usually towards the top of the steering wheel where some view of the road is still maintained.

With texting laws, people hide their phones in their laps to text where no view of the road can be maintained.

[TMF]

I don't believe I said that anywhere in any of my posts.

Did the texting and driving law prevent the girl from texting and driving?

No you didn't say that, but your argument centers around the belief that laws do nothing to prevent behavior so it is reasonable for me to assume that laws against murder do not prevent them at all.

[daddyo]

No you didn't say that, but your argument centers around the belief that laws do nothing to prevent behavior so it is reasonable for me to assume that laws against murder do not prevent them at all.

It does not deter undesirable behavior in some people. Law-abiding people will obey the laws; but the criminal element and the irresponsible will not.

Texting and driving is already against the law in Tennessee. I fail to see what additional laws will do that the current ones will not.

[TMF]

It does not deter undesirable behavior in some people. Law-abiding people will obey the laws; but the criminal element and the irresponsible will not.

Texting and driving is already against the law in Tennessee. I fail to see what additional laws will do that the current ones will not.

I don't advocate more laws, just stiffer penalties. It's clear after several studies that texting while driving is more dangerous than drunk driving. The penalty should reflect that as it does with DUIs, but I guess my opinions on DUI penalties are pretty harsh too.

[ls3_kid]

This is why I have Siri.

[Guest oldslowchevy]

I have a new iPhone 4S. All I have to do is to speak and the software (Siri) creates and sends the text for me. I never have to look at the phone, touch a key, or be anymore distracted than talking to a passenger. Technically, I am texting. Is that illegal?

yes and no.

yes you are texting while driving.

no because you are useing a hands free device.

it would be interesting to see how that would play out.