[Newsbot]

Title: Should driving while texting be a crime?
Category: World
Posted By: tritium
Date: 2009-07-28 12:11:08

[martin14]

I think texting is more dangerous than talking.

A form of reckless endangermment for others;
couple of weeks / months
in the can, just enough
to screw up your life for a while.

[Akhenaten]

"Should driving while texting be a crime?"

Yes. BTW drunken driving convictions are up 36% and hit-and-runs are up 29% in the last two years.

[Robair]

Yes. Who has time to read through anything while driving? Anything that requires more than a quick glance to get your info is very dangerouse. I think there are some car stereos that shouldn't be operated by the driver. A glance is all you can spare. If it takes more than that, pull over. I was almost in a head on with an idiot reading a map once.

[DrCaleb]

"Driving with undue care and attention" is already a crime.

Should it be a separate crime? No. Should it be enforced? YES. Aggressively and without remorse.

[ASLplease]

um.....since when has it been a crime to be stupid?

[Schnek]

why are we focusing on the thigns that make bad drivers do bad things... I'm not disagreeing with the idea, but I can personally say that I am quite confident with my driving and if I need to send out an important text or look at the map every once in a while, then cautiously and with the utmost care then I will. It's the education of drivers, not just young, ALL drivers should have to take, it's the bad drivers who are causing these accidents. At some point we have to stop legislating every little f'in movement that we do in our daily lives and start focusing on the education. How free is free?

[poquas]

Holding and using a phone in any way at all should be illegal while driving.

I don't have an issue with hands free.

"Driving with undue care and attention" is subjective and unless it's accompanied with other charges is usually tossed out of court. Using a cell phone is confirmable because on air time is tracked and can be verified. Much easier to prove in court.

[Proculation]

Not a crime but a fine would be appropriate

[Robair]

Schnek Schnek:

why are we focusing on the thigns that make bad drivers do bad things... I'm not disagreeing with the idea, but I can personally say that I am quite confident with my driving and if I need to send out an important text or look at the map every once in a while, then cautiously and with the utmost care then I will.

Pretty sure that's what the dumbass who tried to play chicken with me thought too, likely still thinks it. I don't believe he had a clue how close we were to colliding head on. I was on the edge of the shoulder of a really steep, deep ditch and was close enough to read his bloody map.

If you have to read a map, PULL OVER. If you can't afford the time, buy a GPS.

[DrCaleb]

Schnek Schnek:

I'm not disagreeing with the idea, but I can personally say that I am quite confident with my driving and if I need to send out an important text or look at the map every once in a while, then cautiously and with the utmost care then I will.

You sir, are deluding yourself. Firstly, as I said in another thread, there is no such thing as an important text. Second, any competent driver knows there is no such thing as a minor lapse in concentration. If you need to divert your attention from the road, then pull over at then next safe location.

Don't take people lives in your hands because you think you know what you are doing. Be safe, pull over.

[coaster_dot]

I also agree, I think it should be ticketed offense but not a "crime".

I will admit though, there have been times during a long distance drive when I will read a quick text (but its always read a word, look up, read a word, look up), or scroll through my Ipod (but I do it the same way I read a text). However, I only will do this when the roads are clear. I would never do it during traffic or driving in the city where there are pedestrians or stop and go lights.

However, its between the same lines as speeding. When you [i}can[/i} do it safely, but if you get caught...you should get a ticket.

[Praxius]

Schnek Schnek:

why are we focusing on the thigns that make bad drivers do bad things... I'm not disagreeing with the idea, but I can personally say that I am quite confident with my driving and if I need to send out an important text or look at the map every once in a while, then cautiously and with the utmost care then I will. It's the education of drivers, not just young, ALL drivers should have to take, it's the bad drivers who are causing these accidents. At some point we have to stop legislating every little f'in movement that we do in our daily lives and start focusing on the education. How free is free?

If you have to use the phone, look at a map, text or whatever while you're driving, hand it over to a passenger to do this or pull over.

You can be cautious as much as you personally think you should be while doing these things, but it's not just about your abilities, it's the safety and security of everybody else on the road and if your eyes are off the road for any length of time, you are a danger to others sharing the road.

Global National was talking about this yesterday and it takes approx. 5 seconds to read a text message and by that time you could travel the length of a football field.

Driving is not a right, it's a privilege and if the majority of people are doing one paticular action that puts everybody else at risk, then it's going to have details laws focused on those actions and detailed punishments for those actions.

The reports I've came accross also stated that last year there were more accidents involving texting then there were involving drinking and driving.

A vehicle is for transportation from Point A to Point B, it's not your little office away from work, it's not your little social club, it's not your little entertainment unit.... it's a heavy chunk of steel that travels at high speeds that requires full concentration and attention for safe driving, or else people will be injured and/or killed because some idiot wanted to "LOL" something.

And if people can't understand this and think their little social device is more important then their concentration on driving, then they shouldn't have a license and shouldn't be behind the wheel.

[Choban]

I'm pretty sure right now that if you cause an accident and they can prove you were texting or on the phone or fiddling with some gadget in your car they charge you with Driving with undue care and attention.
I could be wrong, it needs to be stricter and more defined when it comes to things like phones/texting and GPS's though.