Senators mulling a nationwide ban on texting while driving
Last time we checked in with the issue of texting while driving, the NHTSA practically claimed it was gagged by Congress. Fast forward a week -- after the New York Times report and the results of a Virginia Tech study -- and now a group of Democratic senators is proposing a nationwide ban on texting behind the wheel.
In a study of truckers, VA Tech said the increased risk of an accident was 23-times higher when texting and six-times higher when simply dialing or reaching for "an electronic device." In response to those kinds of numbers, New York Senator Charles Schumer (D) said "The federal government ought to pass a law banning this dangerous and growing practice to protect the millions of Americans on our nation's roads. It is a matter of public safety."
Like the drunk driving or minimum drinking age laws enacted in years past, the proposed legislation would punish states that don't enact the restrictions by reducing federal highway funds by 25%. There's no timeline yet for the legislation to be passed, but if it does get approved, it would become law within six months, and states would be given two years to develop their own laws. Important to note: the law would only apply to texting in moving cars, not stopped cars.
[Source: Yahoo! | Image Source: Bruno Vincent/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
dezoris00 6:35PM (7/29/2009)
Which means it is left up to the local police to enforce so if you even have a phone near your face and a cop sees you it means some nice local revenue from tickets.
Add texting cams all over the place and you have a gold mine.
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glenn stordeur 8:43PM (7/29/2009)
Is that Matt Lauer texting?
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Matt (that likes ford) 7:16PM (7/29/2009)
+1 lol
The Hit 10:57PM (7/29/2009)
"GET ME SUM NAWWS!!!!"
vansentenj 6:37PM (7/29/2009)
Quite honestly, it is about time.
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lance 6:51PM (7/29/2009)
i ll second that. some people have a hard enough time just driving .there are plenty of these clueless asses out there.
cj 6:39PM (7/29/2009)
@ Brian,
I think the sad part is that there should be a LAW to stop ppl from texting while driving.
I mean phone call, maybe I'll accept, cuz u still have ur eyes on the road.
Texting? I mean come on, you have to take ur eyes off the road to check the message!!
And plz don't give me this crap about democrat. As a person who hates both political parties equally, I dun see y this is the issue with the democrats.
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Farris 6:40PM (7/29/2009)
I read the title as "Senators mulling a nationwide ban on texting... while driving."
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katatonics 6:40PM (7/29/2009)
California already has a law in place to this effect. It really does not inconvenience anyone all that much. Being that driving is a "privilege," not a right, it makes sense that anything that would impair your response time be discouraged.
Those still wanting to talk on their cell or text while driving still get away with it, but by and large it has decreased freeway texting, which certainly makes my commute better. Common sight: on streets, a light turns green, and the car at the front takes a second longer to notice due to texting.
I can live with that.
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Epicfawn 6:43PM (7/29/2009)
this is just another case of people in power making laws, just to make them. Just a bunch of highly paid pencil pushers that have nothing to do but pass useless laws. "Hey lets find a way to get more money" Next thing you know there will be a "no touching yourself at the steering wheel" law.
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Sean 6:46PM (7/29/2009)
Yeah, because texting while driving is safe. I'm sure they're doing this just for a laugh.
I think everyone should text while driving, drink a few beers beforehand, too. Don't forget to read a book and eat some food as well.
katatonics 6:51PM (7/29/2009)
"Useless" is a law that will make that car swerving into the next lane while roaring down a highway at 70 miles per hour?
This is actually a law that kind of makes sense.
p.s. it isn't fun to be hit by a texting driver -- my last THREE accidents have been by cell-phone talking or texting people.
paul34 6:53PM (7/29/2009)
Wow, you're right guys. Making texting while driving a crime will definitely prevent every single case of you guys being victimized by such careless drivers.
I mean, they have all these speeding laws in states and localities, and it's not like I've ever come close to being destroyed by a speeding, reckless driver.
Oh, and you know what else rocks? DUI. I mean, our laws are SUPER effective. I'm sure no one has ever died by being hit by a drunk or high driver.
Sean 7:18PM (7/29/2009)
Decrease, not remove. You sir, are an asshole.
No one is saying this will completely stop people, but if there is a threat of a ticket or points on a license, some people will think twice, and the amount of incidents will go down.
I'm sure the number of DUI deaths would go down if people weren't allowed to keep their licenses after 20 some odd arrests, something I have seen before. Perhaps, oh I don't know, ONE arrest and your license is gone? Do you agree, or do you think they would still go out in a car without their license, because that law wouldn't be good enough?
Scott 8:12PM (7/29/2009)
thanks Sean. you keep the rest of us from having to say anything.
and paul you are an ass.
Rev 1:29AM (7/30/2009)
Some people will seize any opportunity to play the victim.
Sadly, we can't outlaw stupidity...
Smegley 6:44PM (7/29/2009)
Can we please have a nationwide ban on Congress? In fact DC is not a state, so why dont the 50 states gang up and expel DC and everyone peddling influence there to the crapheap of history. They all suck. Screw our Congress.
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paul34 6:52PM (7/29/2009)
Yup, they long ago forgot what that little piece of paper called the "Constitution" is all about. This type of law is thoroughly unconstitutional. The Federal government has no business passing federal legislation about texting on a cellphone, or any such thing. It is not an explicitly numerated power granted to the Federal government.
If people REALLY want this, then it must be done at the STATE level, NOT the Federal level; this is regardless of my personal views on the topic.
katatonics 6:54PM (7/29/2009)
To paul24, how's reading treating you?
"There's no timeline yet for the legislation to be passed, but if it does get approved, it would become law within six months, and ***states*** would be given two years to develop their own laws."
NicksGarage 6:55PM (7/29/2009)
Um, don't you know that Congress is made up of people from the states and not DC?
They're your represntatives, you might even have elected them (if you cared to vote).
Back on subject... the main reason to have a law like this is so that you can punish someone after they plow through a bunch of kids at the bus stop, not before.
Next can they ban women applying makeup while driving? Especially while they're texted or fumbling through their purses.