Lawmakers to propose ban on driving while texting

News Channel KCBD ^ | Jul 29, 2009 | Unattributed

[Ben Mugged]

States would be required to ban driving while texting or face the loss of highway funds under legislation being pushed by a group of senators.

New York Sen. Charles Schumer and three other Democrats plan to unveil the bill on Wednesday. It follows a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting.

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia ban texting while driving.

Under the Senate proposal, states would need to outlaw texting or e-mailing while operating a moving vehicle or lose 25 percent.....

[Ben Mugged]

of their federal highway funding.

[tatsinfla]

maybe they should actually ban texting while driving....

[TWfromTEXAS]

How many times have they used this loss of highway funds to get us to act?

I know the drinking age had to be raised but have forgotten the other things.

[Izzy Dunne]

maybe they should actually ban texting while driving....

But driving while texting causes SO many misspellings...

[YoungHickey]

And SO clearly a Federal issue...

[Oldexpat]

Since many phones now have GPS receivers..they could be programed not to do text msgs while moving. No problemo

[rwfromkansas]

I’ve done it occassionally, though I hate to do it. It really isn’t more dangerous than eating while driving, changing CDs etc.

That is, unless you are constantly looking down like some people.

[SECURE AMERICA]

States would be required to ban driving while texting or face the loss of highway funds under legislation being pushed by a group of senators.

What a bunch of friggin idiots.
Like we do not have 10,000 traffic laws already.
I can assure you, that most likely, every State has several laws on the books that cover driving while doing something other then driving,such as texting.
Reckless driving
Inattentive driving
and on and on.Have the Police ENFORCE the laws that exists and STFU....

[BlueNgold]

Anyone else tired of federal blackmail over ‘highway funds’?

[bareford101]

when you take your eyes from the road, while driving, you are endangering everyone around you. Texting, aka writing is so ridicously foolish that I can’t believe a law is needed. Have you ever seen a law against writing while driving? Or is there a law against reading while driving? No, it used to be taken for granted that people had sense enough to know better. Have we gotten dumber? or just feel more entitled and demanding they want their way RIGHT NOW?

[bcsco]

...or just feel more entitled and demanding they want their way RIGHT NOW?

You nailed it.

[Ben Mugged]

During my time commuting in San Jose California I saw it all. Women applying makeup in a mirror at 75Mph. Men reading newspapers propped on the steering wheel. One lady changing her blouse while the passenger held the wheel at 70Mph. One guy ran into the back of my brand new Thunderbird after he dropped his cell phone on the floor and bent over to retrieve it. When I looked in my rearview mirror there was no driver in the seat of his Volvo. I got another brand new Thunderbird two months later.

I should write a book......

[WayneS]

I’ve been tired of it since they required states to adopt helmet laws or “lose highway funding” back in the 1970s.

[sean327]

I don’t understand why people text. It’s much easier to talk on the phone than text. My wife and I have turned texting off on our cell phone plan. You need to talk to us, then call us.

[wolfcreek]

I was hoping these sticker might help but, we are dealing with a serious ADDICTION here.

[org.whodat]

Simple fix, make the cell tower owner/operators liable for accidents. In about two minutes your phone would no longer work if you were moving.

[Oldpuppymax]

Congress must PASS A LAW telling people not to write messages while driving?? As usual, congress believes new laws will prevent people from being MORONS!! How about a law requiring parachute jumpers to wear parachutes!! Or IS there one already??!!

[org.whodat]

Since many phones now have GPS receivers..they could be programed not to do text msgs while moving. No problemo

You posted that while I was typing. LOL

[Future Snake Eater]

Or people could just stop being stupid. That’s what I would prefer.

[Red Boots]

How many times have they used this loss of highway funds to get us to act?

Mandatory seat belts, kid's car seats, speed limits, drunk driving limits...

[Red Boots]

Or people could just stop being stupid. That’s what I would prefer.

People will never stop being stupid, 1000's of new laws or no. Why ? Because they're people !

Unless we want to live in a tyranny, we just have to accept it.

[Future Snake Eater]

That’s my point. We could enact pointless, superfluous laws to legislate common sense, or we can accept it as a given that people are idiots and be careful while driving.

[Drew68]

I don’t understand why people text. It’s much easier to talk on the phone than text.

"Conference call has been moved from 0800 to 0730 tomorrow."

I just sent that text to eight coworkers. A lot easier than calling each of them. Texting makes sense in many applications when you need to convey a message but don't need to disturb people with a phone call.

[rwfromkansas]

I used to agree, but now I find it faster than calling for simple messages, and you don’t bug a person. They can read the message whenever, just like e-mail.

[Red Boots]

We agree then. How nice ! (no sarcasm intended)