Comments on: A Driving Problem, Not a Texting Problem

By: Jason S.

Jason S. — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:42:28 +0000

What happens then? More ped crashes? I don’t know, its pretty hard to predict the unintended consequences of rules and regulations.

The amount of time in a day has not changed. How we use that time has. What’s more important, telling your BFF that Jenny just looked at you funny, or being able to travel to your job…to support your family?

Are we so self-centered that we can’t take a break from being stimulated for a few minutes so we can safely drive somewhere. The answer appears to be “Yes”. Humankind has done a pretty good job adapting to this planet. We rarely have to worry about simply surviving anymore so we have turned our attention in all different directions. I don’t think you can simply regulate this problem away because it appears to be only a symptom, or condition, of a larger topic. My overall point is that there are trade-offs. Do you want an extremely safe transportation system, or a pretty safe one and some sense of individualism and freedom. We actually do have a pretty safe system. Sure we can regulate it further, put a traffic cop and a firing squad at every mile marker, and execute everyone that doesn’t appear to be attentive…but who wants that kind of society, not me. We must continue to do what we can to reduce risks, but we need to have priorities and take the good along with the bad.

By: froggyprager

froggyprager — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:43:43 +0000

I agree, the problem is not drunk driving, texting while driving, or talking on the phone while driving but that we drive too much. Perhaps if we put so many rules on driving, more people will think twice before taking a job, buying a house that requires lots of driving and consider a place there they can walk, bike, bus, etc. so they can have more time to safely do the things they want to do. Given the option I think most people would prefer to drive much less.

By: Vagabondblogger

Vagabondblogger — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:03:21 +0000

I have a problem with people who have one hand to the ear talking on their mobiles, so texting while driving makes me nuts. Both take away your attention from the road. They should be offenses equal to driving while drunk or “under the influence”. But let me add this, most people who do those things to begin with, are probably bad drivers (or extremely rude people), who shouldn’t have a drivers license to begin with. I’m also in favor of testing older folks. I can’t say how many times I’ve almost been run down (as a pedestrian), or into (as a driver), by someone who is either not with it, or just doesn’t give a damn.

By: aaron

aaron — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:37:45 +0000

We could also focus on mismanagement of traffic. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that most texting and cell phone use is induced by inadequate traffic flow.

By: njkayaker

njkayaker — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:18:05 +0000

Andy@7 “As a law enforcement officer, you need to quit worrying about things that MIGHT cause trouble, and instead worry about things that DO cause trouble”
?? There is at least one study that shows texting is more distracting that being drunk. Does that mean drunk driving should be legal? Anyway, the point is to avoid trouble (ie, collisions) before it occurs.

By: Josh R

Josh R — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:22:56 +0000

Andy, anyone who is driving and texting is not driving competently, period, full stop, end of sentence. The driver’s attention is divided and they only have one hand on the wheel for extended periods of time, neither of which is a good thing for driving safety.

The problem here is the differing definition of “Competent driving” Being able to keep your car in the same lane while going in a straight line is not “Competent” its a bare minimum level of skill expected of a student driver. What defines competent driving is your situational awareness and ability to react quickly to changing conditions. Somebody may be pretty good at keeping his car between the lines while texting, but I absolutely guarantee that if something happens ahead of him that requires action on his part, he will react more slowly and less competently then someone who has both hands on the wheel and is watching the road.

Texting while driving should absolutely be a primary offense, because while texting YOU ARE NOT DRIVING. You are at best keeping your ton of metal & plastic between the lines, and that’s not good enough.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Nate, why do you want this to be a primary offense? That is ridiculous. As a law enforcement officer, you need to quit worrying about things that MIGHT cause trouble, and instead worry about things that DO cause trouble. Someone driving incompetently, texting or not, should be stopped and ticketed. Someone driving competently, texting or not, should be left alone. You shouldn’t ever make a stop if you couldn’t make that same stop if the person had all tinted windows so that you couldn’t observe any irrelevant behavior internal to the vehicle.

By: Yuri Artibise

Yuri Artibise — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:38:21 +0000

My solution for those who want to text while on the move, is to leave the keys at home and pick up a transit pass.

By: Nate A

Nate A — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:32:49 +0000

I wish they would make texting while driving a primary offense in VA. Currently it’s a secondary offense, which I guess I should be glad that at least it’s against the law! I’m a police officer, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to right someone a ticket for it. Not only do you have to prove they were texting and not dialing a phone number, you have to have another reason to stop them. Which makes enforcement of this law virtually impossible.

By: TomL

TomL — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:00:50 +0000

People multitask because they are so pressed for time, to accomplish more things in the same amount of time.

So take away a chunk of their free time when they are caught driving while using a cellphone or texting. In addition to a nomimal monetary fine (less than $100), make them spend at least 8 hours doing community service.

A full day picking up trash, sweeping streets or other mindless labor will cause people to think twice before using their personal electronic devices and trying to pilot a 3,000 lb on the highway.