No cellphones, no texting by drivers, U.S. urges

The Washington Times ^ | December 13, 2011 | Joan Lowy, Associated Press

[Darnright]

>Honestly for a conservative freedom loving website I observe a lot of bobble heads when it comes to the govt enacting one law after another to regulate and control us. I had a guy giving me grief yesterday on a thread because he agrees with Obama’s admin that we don’t “Need” to have large pickup trucks so we should make the manufacturers stop producing them.<

Not that long ago there were quite a few people who would have loved to see the large SUV’s banned. “Them there soccer moms don’t NEED them big vehicles!”

I’ve been behind ding-a-lings yapping on their phones, holding up traffic, but I’ve been behind scores more old biddies (and old men, for that matter) creeping along in ancient cars, barely able to see over their steering wheels.

[org.whodat]

No you do not see the trees for the forest, you can do as you wish, but you freedom stops where mine starts. When you get on the highway, you can kill me by stupid so it is ok to make laws against stupid. I can eat a cheeseburger, drive a car and sing and and still drive better than 90% of the drivers. But I do not text and drive. The first time I ran in the ditch as a kid, I was lighting a cigarette, taught me a valuable lesson. I bought one of those blue tooth things for my phone, did not like it. So I decided. I would just get off the road when I wanted to talk on the cell phone. And do not think i said you were stupid, I did not, it was in reference to the average driver.

[CSM]

This would be a huge expansion of the federal government and I hope that my fellow FReepers can see it. We don’t need a FEDERAL traffic law and the states need to simply enforce their current laws. If a talker/texter kills someone, throw their butts in prison for vehicular manslaughter!

I say that as the friend of a victim of this: http://www.mbkmemorial.org/bio.php

[CSM]

Are you talking about the state gov’t or federal gov’t. You didn’t clarify, but the other poster did and that makes the world of difference.

[CSM]

“it is ok to make laws against stupid”

OK, now I’ve seen everything on FR. You really think that it is possible to outlaw stupidity? Where would you ever draw a line in the sand to restrict the government?

[Vermont Lt]

What will eventually happen is one of two things-— car manufacturers will install cel blocking devices as an option. The other is hat car manufacturers will start to integrate cellular services in lower end cars.

I hate the way my kids text ( in or out of the car.). They are losing the ability to interact with real people. I have also see much drama related to misunderstanding tone and inflection— which would be obvious in a telephone call.

[org.whodat]

No, every traffic law we have is against stupid. I think the speed limit should be whatever you can handle, but then you have the fools that have nose bleed at 50. And think they have a god given right to drive 50 in the fast lane. Old people go on vacation in the motor homes, they are not in a hurry and need to be no where at any given time. But they think they need to go there on the interstate. We have millions of miles of nice country roads they can drive on. Where they will see more and have a better time. Then you have the illegals, that have no concept of the common curtsy of getting out of the way. And so on, and etc. All of that and those that think a damn phone is a sexual object.

[sthguard]

Shouldn’t you be out front, yelling at the kids on your lawn? Get lost, you pathetic and ignorant troll.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Even I think texting is over the line. Its just stupid. Talking on the phone and driving is not the same thing. I can talk on the phone and drive and still drive better than 90% of the drivers on the road.

[org.whodat]

Ok, I believe you. It is the texting that drives me up the wall, but still some people go brain dead when they pick up the phone.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Yes, what most people don’t understand is that a free society is a more obnoxious society. Americans are natural born anarchists. Thank God. If they don’t like a law they ignore it. In Europe everybody conforms. you never see a cop on the highway because everyone is on the honor system and they obey the speed limits. They never do anything that will get them ostracized by the rest of the herd.

[bootless]

Just for the record, to earn a private pilots certificate, you have to be able to fly an airplane while planning a new flight to another destination, and stay in communication with ATC concurrently.

The real solution here is better driver training, NOT making multitasking illegal for those capable of it.

Amen. It's not *that hard to operate a vehicle with an engine while talking to someone. And car drivers don't have to deal with those damn gas station maps while driving any more.

Ssshhh.... they'll want us wear to bubble-wrap helmets while driving next...