State Bans Texting While Driving

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Rich Tate

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I know that I shouldn’t be surprised that we need laws banning text messaging while operating a motor vehicle, but quite frankly I am. I have enough trouble creating a text message period, let alone trying to drive at the same time.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire yesterday signed this country’s first law putting the kibosh on the dangerous practice of text messaging while behind the wheel of a moving automobile. … Bully for her.
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Wow, my state makes the headline. If only the first two times they counted the votes meant something (Dino Rossi only lost the 3rd vote count to Christine).
 
You know, I am against excessive laws in general. But this one has me wondering, are there so many stupid people actually doing this that the issue demanded the attention to become a law.. Or is Christine just bored off her ass.
 
About time some state did something like this. I live here in NY and I am glad they have cell phone bans while driving, but they are hardly ever enforced, even the police do it so its a joke really. People reading and driving is another one that just baffles my mind, I don't know how you can read and pay attention to the road at the same time.
 
I think they made it a law mainly just so that if someone were to get into an accident, or charged with some other crime, texting while driving is just another thing they can add to the list of laws you broke. I doubt they'd give you a ticket for texting alone.

I was walking down the streets of seattle a couple months ago, and I walked across a street when it said don't walk. I heard a horn honk at me from behind but I just kept walking cause the coast was clear. Later, when I had finished crossing the street and was walking down the block, a cop rode his Harley (yes, cops in Seattle ride Harleys) and yelled out "Jay walker" and kept riding by. I thought, if he stops me, I'm going to tell him about the crack deal I just witnessed a few minutes ago.

Point is, I think it's stupid to text while driving if it impairs your ability to make safe decisions, but the police have more important matters to attend to than people who are texting. How about the guys who've been convicted of stealing more than 30 cars and they still let them back on the streets. I guess us texters are easier money or something.
 
My friend actually got in an accident due to sending a text to my other friend. I guess it is one thing if you can text without looking at your phone, but I never see it as a good idea.
 
As a motorcyclist, I applaud the law.

Fukin' cagers with cell phones... :mad:
 
Have you guys ever seen that Allstate commercial where the guy is naming off multitasking things that increase chances of accidents?

Like makeup, cellphone, changing your pants. I'm not kidding.

After reading this, I'm betting that somebody out there has probably been changing clothes while driving. :eek:
 
I text while driving all the time...I can do it without looking, usually just look down at the end of the text to make sure it looks ok.
 
DocFaustus said:
You know, I am against excessive laws in general. But this one has me wondering, are there so many stupid people actually doing this that the issue demanded the attention to become a law.. Or is Christine just bored off her ass.
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Well the local morning radio talk show one particular host on it mentions he does it all the time, has become quite good at it, he's basically an asshole for continuing to do it. If someone gets in an accident insurance companies should have full rights to your entire cell phone history to see if you were talking/texting right at the time of the accident, then you are be default, at fault.

I thought there were already laws against this, not specifically texting but simply DMV laws that state you must be focused on the road, or some crap like that.
 
ICOM said:
As a motorcyclist, I applaud the law.

Fukin' cagers with cell phones... :mad:
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i hear ya. my biggest fear is being rear ended by some idiot texting or just yapping on her cellphone.
 
Rich Tate said:
After reading this, I'm betting that somebody out there has probably been changing clothes while driving. :eek:
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You can put me on that list. The summer after I graduated from high school I had two jobs, the second as a security guard in the evening. So whenever my day job ran late I would have to change all my clothes but my underwear while driving to the guard job.
 
Don't even get me started on cellphones!:mad: Lost my favorite car because of some idiot who was paying more attention to his than the traffic light at an intersection.Wish someone could invent an EMP device you could use to zap the damn things when you see someone driving all over the road with one stuck in their ear.
 
WHAT? I have a RIGHT to do WHATEVER I WANT while I'm driving. The nerve!!!!

And re: cell phone blockers....they are illegal. But oh how I want to hook one up to my car that has say a 50 ft radius around my car. It would probably cause more harm than good though - people would spend more time fiddling with the phone than paying attention.
 
Been run of the road on my bicycle way too many times by people either on the phone or texting.


Want to bet that it doesn't stop people from texting still?
 
I've had a wreck twice, because some people had their radio on! Or they were switching stations...We should get rid of radio's and if they have their radio's on then they are at fault.
 
Yeah didn't NY impose a ban on cellphone usage while driving or something? How did that turn out?
 
Most places have but no one ever gets reprimanded unless they do something else stupid along with it. If speeding and on phone then 2 tickets, kind of like the seatbelt issue in most states.
 
I can kind of see where this law is coming from. Sometimes I have trouble texting while driving when I'm drunk, but mostly because I drive a stick and it's hard to change gears with my foot and work the clutch. I also like to look up song lyrics using the internet on my phone if I hear a song I like on the radio or something, that is more difficult than texting imho.














































I should have bought an automatic.
 
Sometimes I have trouble texting while driving when I'm drunk, but mostly because I drive a stick and it's hard to change gears with my foot and work the clutch.
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:eek: I hope you are joking, 'bout driving dRunK...

I live near Seattle, and it amazes me, how poorly people drive in Wa. The worst ones are:

1. Speed lane granny -- He/She drives in the left lane on the Interstate, 4 miles under the posted speed limit.

2. Granny racer -- Same as above, but when you go to pass him, he then decides to speed up to match your speed, because he can't stand it when you pass him.

3. Non-Winter driver - This person can't drive on the ice or snow to save their life. They repeatedly slam on their brakes, and skid all over the place. A word of advice: STAY OFF THE BRAKES WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ICE!!:mad:

4. The Inebriated (drunk) driver -- On the road between about 11:00 PM, to about 3:00 AM. Needs at least 2 lanes, sometimes 3. Regularly pays for new paving, in the form of DUI fines.
 
Having been a near victim of idiots on their phones while they're supposed to be paying attention their driving, I have no problem with banning texting while the vehicle is moving. I have no problem with banning cell phone use while the vehicle is moving. I've had to jump out of the way on several occasions while walking next to a road because some fool isn't paying attention to their driving.

You're supposed to be paying attention to the direction of a 2500-2000lb vehicle, not fucking around with your phone, or text messaging device. Nor are you supposed to be putting on makeup or receiving oral sex. You're driving a potentially deadly vehicle, and it deserves your full attention.

I recall studies saying you have a 4X higher chance of an accident while using a phone, hands-free or not. It's the distraction, not whether it's in your hand or you are speaker-phoning it.

I say make it a primary offense (cops can pull you over for it), and make it a mandatory reckless endangerment charge, since if you're on the phone while driving, and even more so fucking around with a text messenger, you ARE ENDANGERING other's safety. SCREW YOU.
 
Heh. Drove with a friend of mine from Portland to Seattle last weekend. Whole trip up he was texting on I-5 :p
 
I was almost creamed by a motorist who were texting on thier phone. Boy did that get me a little worked up :mad:

This should be common sense. Heck, just ban cellphones from driving and we'd be all set. Pretty soon they will need a law for "watching videos on your cellphone while driving".
 
Ockie said:
I was almost creamed by a motorist who were texting on thier phone. Boy did that get me a little worked up :mad:

This should be common sense. Heck, just ban cellphones from driving and we'd be all set. Pretty soon they will need a law for "watching videos on your cellphone while driving".
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Yep - this is a no-brainer. Phones should be illegal to use while driving period. I'm also seeing people driving like morons while using their stupid navigation systems. I think those should be locked of of any programming or dicking around with them while the vehicle is in motion.
 
michael.pa2 said:
If it saves one life,that's difference enough for me.
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I agree. A car is exactly there for one purpose.... to get you from point a to point b... not to be your one stop shop to entertainment, communications, office work, sleeping, etc.


I think we can credit these bans to the morons who don't use common sense, so we all have to pay the price. I know a lot of people who has some common sense and will actually pull over to take a call or awnser and tell them to call back at a later time... instead of yacking and yacking and swerving all over the road endangering thier fellow motorists or their own lives.
 
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