Texting Behind The Wheel Should Be Same As DUI

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A new statistic says that almost all people want texting while driving banned. Half of those people want the punishment to be the same as drinking and driving. Not to be a jerk but, every time I read statistics like these can’t help but wonder, if this “97% of the all people” figure is accurate…who the hell is left texting while they are driving? :confused:

Nearly all Americans say sending a text message while driving should be illegal, and about half say texting while behind the wheel should be punished at least as harshly as drunken driving, according to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll.
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I see to many people text while they drive. I almost got hit 3 times TODAY because idiots can't wait till they are at the light to text.
 
nearly all americans? hmm i dont ever remember filling out a questionaire or poll asking me if i thought it was illegal..

thats about how legitimate these bogus polls are.. they get maybe 1000 people to actually do them and then claim everyone that answered it speaks for all americans..
 
yeah... but paying 25usd for a first fine makes most people just shrug it off.

"who cares, it's only 25usd?"

It should be harsher.
 
jeremyshaw said:
yeah... but paying 25usd for a first fine makes most people just shrug it off.

"who cares, it's only 25usd?"

It should be harsher.
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This! It should be much more than a parking ticket .. like at least $50. and second time like an infraction or something .. my 2 cents
 
LOCO LAPTOP said:
I see to many people text while they drive. I almost got hit 3 times TODAY because idiots can't wait till they are at the light to text.
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Wait, you think it is okay to do it at the lights? Eyes off the road is good at the lights? I see the infection is spreading.
 
Kenworth said:
Wait, you think it is okay to do it at the lights? Eyes off the road is good at the lights? I see the infection is spreading.
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I didn't say it was nor do I agree for texting at the lights. but it is better then driving while texting.
 
Keep your damn phone in your pocket while you're in the car. Period.
 
I'm for lumping it all under "reckless driving" - and at a minimum, immediately suspending the license of anyone caught doing it. If you're not mature enough to make sure your attention is on the road when you're driving, you're not mature enough to have a license, period. Whatever the impairment of choice happens to be, you don't have the right to put everyone else's safety at risk.
 
You seriously think all people have the same capabilities? I send SMSs and emails every now and then while driving WITHOUT looking at the device. That's pretty much the same as changing my GPS destination or talking to someone else in the car. Yes if there's an idiot out there who can't do it properly but still does, he should be taken care of (individually and hopefully by natural selection).
 
Both txting and talking on a cellphone while driving was just last week made illegal here in NZ. I think it's great and penalties should be high.

A friend of mine was just about run off the road just a couple of days ago (after the law had passed) by some idiot who drifted into his lane because he was busy txting.
 
quixotic said:
You seriously think all people have the same capabilities? I send SMSs and emails every now and then while driving WITHOUT looking at the device. That's pretty much the same as changing my GPS destination or talking to someone else in the car. Yes if there's an idiot out there who can't do it properly but still does, he should be taken care of (individually and hopefully by natural selection).
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Matterfact i am typing this while i'm driving at 105mph down the interested ;) oops type interstate:eek:
 
Until the fines are harsh enough this sort of dangerous behaviour will continue. People caught using a cell phone while driving, in any way, should lose their license for 6 months. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and those who would jeopardize another's safety for their own convenience should not be on the road.
What the hell is so important that people can't wait to use their cell phones, until they are not driving?
 
You life isn't that interesting or important. You don't need to update your status on facebook to let everyone know just how boring you are - especially when you are trying to drive - they already know.

Driving is a privilege not a right. First-time texting-while-driving offenders should get a thumb or two broken.
 
jeremyshaw said:
careful when crossing the intersection, both as a pedestrian and as a driver.
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Normally when sitting at the light, you aren't crossing the intersection at that exact moment. Usually you are sitting at the light.
 
Skizzy said:
Normally when sitting at the light, you aren't crossing the intersection at that exact moment. Usually you are sitting at the light.
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No, this is for general crossing the intersection.

CA driver guide states you should look both ways at the intersection for people who are running a red light, before you cross the intersection.

This is one of the 'minors' (dunno if it made it to 'major', as the driving instructor stressed it a lot a while back) that would count against you, but not an autofail for driver liscense certification.


Texting while at the intersection.... if they are texting against the law, heck, even talking on the phone, what makes you think it will just be confined to the 'intersection'?

"oh, I didn't see it was a red light. It was green the last I saw it"

O really?

"yes officer"

what were you doing?

"looking out for... um...."

clinch!
 
Draax said:
Until the fines are harsh enough this sort of dangerous behaviour will continue. People caught using a cell phone while driving, in any way, should lose their license for 6 months. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and those who would jeopardize another's safety for their own convenience should not be on the road.
What the hell is so important that people can't wait to use their cell phones, until they are not driving?
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First time drunk drivers don't even lose their license most of the time. Not gonna happen.

And be careful what you wish for. If something like this were to ever happen, it would encompass a lot more than cell phones, and you could find yourself without a license and without a way to get to work or make a living, depending on where you live and the availability of public transportation.
 
Huh? If you reach a light and come to a full-stop none of that applies...
 
yeah... but texting while driving is still a distraction, regardless of where you are.

If you were pulled over, then sure! (as long as legal shoulder)

But at an intersection? Sheesh.
 
jeremyshaw said:
yeah... but texting while driving is still a distraction, regardless of where you are.

If you were pulled over, then sure! (as long as legal shoulder)

But at an intersection? Sheesh.
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Cell phone use in a stopped vehicle is not putting anyone at risk. At worst it annoys the person behind you when the light goes green and you take a few extra seconds to notice.

The thing about all this cell phone crap is... why only cell phones? There are a billion other distractions that are more dangerous, less necessary for work and family, and all perfectly legal.

No officer, I wasn't using my cell phone, I was putting on my make up and yelling at my kid. Oh okay that's fine then. Have a nice day.
 
Yeah... but have you ever seen somebody texting while driving?

Lucky guy, here.

And texting... you are assuming by letting the gate open a little bit "at the intersection," that these people won't do the same thing while on a freeway, or a street.

How about texting in a shopping mall parking lot? (while it's open).

Just saying: you can do this, but only then.

Doesn't stop most people.

Heck, even a general ban in CA has not stopped many people.
 
I'm probably one of the few people under 30 to have never sent a text message, but I am definitely in for severe punishment for those that do this.

Anything that takes your eyes away from the road is very hazardous, but cell phones are the worst because most people hold it and look downwards. If you are looking at GPS on your dash, the road is at least in your peripherals.

Too bad the government can't take over the cell phone companies. If you issued a 60-day ban on texting for those caught, it would probably have a larger effect than say a 60-day ban on your drivers license.
 
Too bad the government can't take over the cell phone companies.
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Yeah! And let's have them take over grocery stores while they are at it and get rid of all that unhealthy food! Maybe they can takeover Nvidia and help them release some better cards.

You people who favor a "Nanny State At Any Cost" scare the hell out of me.
 
Heh, makes me think of this video I saw recently. This woman recorded herself (yeah, she was operating a camera while driving), telling the camera about how she just dyed her hair with koolaid (purple) to look 'less ghetto' and that she was going to 'get her man back' from 'that ho' and how she had the camera to record it. She's scratching her head because apparently koolaid makes it itch, she's putting on her lipstick, talking to the camera (looking at the camera), then screams "What the ****... look where you're driving...gah..people are so inconsiderate..he almost hit me! These people that don't watch where they're going piss me off so much. **** I messed up my lipstick!" The video made it to the internet, but I can't remember what the link was now.
 
its just been made illegal here in New Zealand to operate a cell phone whilst driving. You had to go hands free as of the 1st nov. This includes using GPS on a cellphone unless it is securely mounted (ie totally hands free). instant $100 fine + 20 demerit points (if you clock up 100 demerits in a year you automatically lose your license for 3 months). The only instances where its ok to use a cellphone non hands free is an emergency call, or if you are completely stopped due to an accident or traffic holdup. that does not include traffic jams or red-lights.

i, personally welcome our new hands free overlords.
 
Go ahead and ban everything in existence while driving for those normal people who can barely keep the car straight without distractions as long as I can take a driving test to prove I can handle it and be licensed to do as I want. Oh and while we're at it I don't have to obey the speed laws either :D

Where's my eX-Driver future ?
 
Can we ban radios too?

Because there's always some r-tard at the light too busy jamming to their tunes at a billion decibels, shaking the shit out of their trunk with the sheer vibration, to see that THE LIGHT HAS BEEN GREEN FOR THE LAST THIRTY SECONDS, AND NO AMOUNT OF HONKING WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION!

If those people aren't being done with for obstructing traffic on top of the noise pollution they're putting out, I don't see why texting while driving should be lumped in as driving with impairment if we can't even do something about all the idiots before the texting craze. R-tards in general who can't multitask while behind the wheel are the problem. NOT JUST people who text.
 
BioSehnsucht said:
Go ahead and ban everything in existence while driving for those normal people who can barely keep the car straight without distractions as long as I can take a driving test to prove I can handle it and be licensed to do as I want. Oh and while we're at it I don't have to obey the speed laws either :D

Where's my eX-Driver future ?
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If it comes to that, I'm signing up to be on the team. I'm not giving up the ability to drive, dammit.
 
I would pay a $50k/yr premium if I could get a highway system for people who focus on driving whilst driving, no radio, no burgerking on your lap, and certainly no fucking texting. Oh, and no speed limits. American autobahn, anyone? Members only and Big-Kid Rules.
 
Machupo said:
I would pay a $50k/yr premium if I could get a highway system for people who focus on driving whilst driving, no radio, no burgerking on your lap, and certainly no fucking texting. Oh, and no speed limits. American autobahn, anyone? Members only and Big-Kid Rules.
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I know I never used a device (except a preset CD player) when I could drive 190 km/h outside the United States.
 
I think we should stop mincing words and just ban morons. I text while I drive, but I do it when I'm stopped at a light, otherwise I use my hands free. Don't take away my privileges to do what I need to do when I can do it effectively and safely just because morons can't multi-task or use their brains.
 
I was a traveling engineer a few years back and took a lot of calls while on the road. I got the hands free kit, but soon realized that the problem was the fact that the other person could not see my traffic, and I could not see what they were talking about. That forced me to visualize their instrument to troubleshoot while they were oblivious to my current traffic conditions. My eyes were on the road, but my mind wasn't. I finally just started telling them that I was busy and I would call them back later. An easy place to pull over is not usually readily available. The emergency lane is supposed to be for emergencies after all.

For all of you that "multitask," the fact that you CAN txt on your phone without looking at it is moot. The problem is that you are "visualizing" the keypad and the words, not the road. You may see the road in front of you, but miss that fool in the next lane coming over on your ass, or realize that the car in front of you is slowing down. I've seen plenty of times where people can't stay in their lane even though their eyes are on the road. Driving isn't just about seeing a picture of what is in front of you, it is about interpreting it. You need to have a 3D visual in your mind of the traffic all around you. Once you start visualizing that keypad, situational awareness is brain-dumped.

Driving is mostly boring, and simplistic, but timing is everything and if you aren't paying attention at the right time... well I certainly don't want to be with you then.
 
Driving is the most dangerous thing we all do everyday that can end our lives faster than nearly anything else, and yet we all take it for granted. Worried about a phone call? Is that of life or death importance?

Morons not-with-standing, I think cellphones in cars are a bad idea. When used in moderation, okay. "I'm at Lanier street, be there in five. We can talk about that when I get there." But anyone wanting to be completely excluded from a cellphone ban is in denial. But I also feel that overly restrictive laws are a worrisome trend leading to a police-state.

I don't want the law. But I would rather take the phone out of the moron's hands even if that means that I have to as well.
 
starsfan7 said:
I think we should stop mincing words and just ban morons. I text while I drive, but I do it when I'm stopped at a light, otherwise I use my hands free. Don't take away my privileges to do what I need to do when I can do it effectively and safely just because morons can't multi-task or use their brains.
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not everybody can.

Are we going to test for multitasking, too?
http://www.research.vt.edu/resmag/ResearchMagJan06/multitask.html
http://www.multitaskingtests.com/about.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95702512

cause we already have.

Just because you are 'safe' now, doesn't mean you are 'safe' to other people who you are risking.
 
Draax said:
Until the fines are harsh enough this sort of dangerous behaviour will continue. People caught using a cell phone while driving, in any way, should lose their license for 6 months. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and those who would jeopardize another's safety for their own convenience should not be on the road.
What the hell is so important that people can't wait to use their cell phones, until they are not driving?
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you can make it as harsh as you want and people wont stop doing it.. what you dont think the DUI laws are harsh enough? especially in california.. yet people still do it every day..

the laws dont need to change.. the people do.. you could threaten them with 10 years in prison and people will still do it.. the problem could also be solved by the cell phone companies and makers of the cell phones to.. by disabling the ability to text when traveling at a certain speed since almost all modern cell phones have GPS's in them.. once it detects movement and a certain speed of travel you can set it to automatically disable the texting.. but will they do this? hell no because it cuts into their profits..
 
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