Nine in 10 Americans Say Ban Texting While Driving

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It's getting pretty bad out there these days. Seems like every other car you see someone is either yapping or playing on a cell phone while attempting to operate a 4,000 pound vehicle, especially the younger people (teenagers to early 30s) who have the most accidents to begin with anyway.

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Nine in 10 Americans say ban texting while driving (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070807/tc_nm/texting_driving_dc_2;_ylt=AuZ_GfcRt1hKEogj1u3XLssE 1vAI)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ninety-one percent of Americans believe sending text messages while driving is as dangerous as driving after having a couple of drinks, but 57 percent admit to doing it, a poll released on Tuesday said.

The Harris Interactive survey commissioned by mobile messaging service Pinger Inc. found 89 percent of respondents believe texting while driving is dangerous and should be outlawed.

Even so, 66 percent of the adults surveyed who drive and use text messaging told pollsters they had read text messages or e-mails while driving. Fifty-seven percent admitted to sending them.

The state of Washington in May passed the first ban in the United States on texting while driving and at least six other states including New York, California and Florida are considering similar legislation, Pinger said in a statement releasing the survey results.

The survey found that men and women sent text messages while driving at equal rates but that the young did so more frequently. Sixty-four percent of those who admitted to sending text messages while driving were aged 18 to 34 while 6 percent were 55 or older.

The poll surveyed 2,049 U.S. adults from June 29 to July 3, giving the survey a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

[Garcia Bronco]

New yourk should just ban talking...and polls

[TailgateNut]

It's bad enough when you have an "air head" using the phone, but texting should not be allowed while driving.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Pena Blvd looks like a bumper car track on Thursday/Friday nights when business travelers get back to town and feel they need to text or use their blackberries while driving. I feel safer driving around a bunch of drunks.

[Crushaholic]

We already have too few cops and an overload in the courts. We don't need to chase people around who are too stupid to put down the text messaging and watch the road. I have no problem with honking at them, though...

[Bronco_Beerslug]

We already have too few cops and an overload in the courts. We don't need to chase people around who are too stupid to put down the text messaging and watch the road. I have no problem with honking at them, though...Yeah, better to let them endanger everyone else out on the road by doing something totally stupid while driving.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.

[Garcia Bronco]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.

You forgot looking at tail. :)

[footstepsfrom#27]

You forgot looking at tail. :)
That too...$200 fine for lookin' at tail. ::)

[TailgateNut]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.


There's a big difference in some of the activities you mention, and "texting" (typing) while driving. The concentration required to type reduces/ eliminates the concentration required to be able to respond to road hazards.

[c_lazy_r]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.

Bingo.

[Meck77]

Wow people can actually text and drive? I tried sending a text once and it was a pain in the ass. Can't imagine driving and texting.

I hate cell phones period. I soaked mine by accident and it's been out of service for 10 days now. Best thing that could have happened. Now I just check my voice mail from my home number and call people back later. It's working out great.

[Chupacabra]

My ex gf would insist on having conversations over txt msgs while i was driving, esp. on long hauls. I hate txting in the first place. I'll support this just to give me an excuse not to answer txt msgs.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.Anyone that doesn't understand that driving isn't a right but a privilege and abusing that privilege to the extent of causing accidents and endangering other people shouldn't be allowed on the roads to begin with.

And your 90% tripe is bogus banter. Trying to say everything is dangerous so doing one more dangerous thing doesn't matter is really pretty stupid.

Study: Drivers Using Cell Phones As Bad As Drunks (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/06/cell_phones_distaction.html)
Three years after the preliminary results first were presented at a scientific meeting and drew wide attention, University of Utah psychologists have published a study showing that motorists who talk on both handheld and hands-free cell phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Anyone that doesn't understand that driving isn't a right but a privilege and abusing that privilege to the extent of causing accidents and endangering other people shouldn't be allowed on the roads to begin with.

And your 90% tripe is bogus banter. Trying to say everything is dangerous so doing one more dangerous thing doesn't matter is really pretty stupid.

Study: Drivers Using Cell Phones As Bad As Drunks (http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/06/cell_phones_distaction.html)
Three years after the preliminary results first were presented at a scientific meeting and drew wide attention, University of Utah psychologists have published a study showing that motorists who talk on both handheld and hands-free cell phones are as impaired as drunken drivers.
It's just one more excuse for cops to stop people. How does some cop klnow whether I can text and drive at the same time? They don't. All they have to do now if this goes through is pull you over on the suspicion you were texting and the next thing they're going through your stuff and asking for ID. I guess some people don't mind Big Daddy sticking his nose into every nook & cranny of life and his paw in their pocket at every opportunity. Some people like the security of knowing the Big Babysitter in Austin or Denver or Washington is looking out for their interests even if he's telling 'em to bend over and grab the ankles at the same time. It makes them feel secure and protected. Other's just find that it pissed 'em off.

I'm in the latter group.

[gunns]

Pena Blvd looks like a bumper car track on Thursday/Friday nights when business travelers get back to town and feel they need to text or use their blackberries while driving. I feel safer driving around a bunch of drunks.

Exactly! I've seen drunks driving, but damn, people on their cell phones are worse. And the funny thing is when they get told about it they are clueless as telling a drunk person about the way their driving. As far as texting, it has to be the worst. Not only takes the mind off the road but the eyes also.

[gunns]

We already have too few cops and an overload in the courts. We don't need to chase people around who are too stupid to put down the text messaging and watch the road. I have no problem with honking at them, though...

May as well add drunk driving to that list also then.

[Los Broncos]

I say ban phones all together while driving

[Bronco Bob]

It's just one more excuse for cops to stop people. How does some cop klnow whether I can text and drive at the same time? They don't. All they have to do now if this goes through is pull you over on the suspicion you were texting and the next thing they're going through your stuff and asking for ID.


Precisely. It isn't up to the cop to know whether you can text message
and drive at the same time. All the cops needs to know is that you
are text messaging while you are driving. It up to a judge and jury
to decide whether you can do both at the same time. It's the same
thing as a DUI, all the cop has to do is show you were intoxicated,
not how good a driver you are while drunk.


I guess some people don't mind Big Daddy sticking his nose into every nook & cranny of life and his paw in their pocket at every opportunity. Some people like the security of knowing the Big Babysitter in Austin or Denver or Washington is looking out for their interests even if he's telling 'em to bend over and grab the ankles at the same time. It makes them feel secure and protected. Other's just find that it pissed 'em off.

I'm in the latter group.

If it has the potential to save my life while I'm driving to work or back
home afterwards, or going to the grocery store, I'm all for it.
If you are pissed off that you are no longer allowed to do something
that could kill me, that's your problem, because it's no longer mine.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Precisely. It isn't up to the cop to know whether you can text message
and drive at the same time. All the cops needs to know is that you
are text messaging while you are driving. It up to a judge and jury
to decide whether you can do both at the same time. It's the same
thing as a DUI, all the cop has to do is show you were intoxicated,
not how good a driver you are while drunk.
First of all I don't text and drive...and I hate texting anyway. What's the point? Why not just call? Texting is for teenage girls except for the occasional time you need to connect with someone who is in a meeting and can't be distubed on their phone. But that's neither here nor there.

How is a cop going to be able to tell whether somebody is sending a text message or not while driving? He'd have to be literally riding right along beside you staring into your windows trying to get a glimpse of what you're doing. Is that really what we want...thousands of cops all over the country tailing behind or next to people with binocculars trained on the front seat? Maybe we can have people monitor red light video cameras trained on intersections hoping to catch the lone random texter? Perhaps we can force manufacturers to install small cameras in car dashboards that automatically scan every 12 seconds looking for the guilty text message sender. The vehicle can be equipped with sophisticated sensors that detect cell phone signals and activate the camera when a signal is detected. Then the relevant info is immediately downloaded to a database, your bank account is then electronically debited for the appropriate fine amount. Great ideas...
If it has the potential to save my life while I'm driving to work or back
home afterwards, or going to the grocery store, I'm all for it.
If you are pissed off that you are no longer allowed to do something
that could kill me, that's your problem, because it's no longer mine.
But it is your problem. It's your problem because you're willing to live in a society where the government gets to focus more and more on anything and everything you're doing...all in the guise of "protection" and "safety". What a load of BS. Don't kid yourself for one split second. This crap has not a damn thing to do with the government's kindly concern and benevolent feelings for your well being. It's about trying to find more ways to intrude into your life and stick their nose into your business, usually with the goal of also charging you for their intrusions.

First it's seatbelt laws...then cell phones...now text messaging...what's next? Blackberries? iPods? Talking to the kids in the backseat? Gimme a freaking break. People need to be regulated and punished for the RESULT of behaviors like this, not the behavior itself. If you run a red light or have a wreck you pay the consequences for what happened...simple.

It's no more the cops business or your business if somebody is sending a text message than if they're eating in the car. We've become a nation of whining babies who can't stand not to have big brother take care of every single thing we do. I'm sick of it.

[footstepsfrom#27]

There's a big difference in some of the activities you mention, and "texting" (typing) while driving. The concentration required to type reduces/ eliminates the concentration required to be able to respond to road hazards.
So do many other things. Ever have 5 kids in the car at one time? THAT is something that reduces your concentration.

[Spider]

Let's also ban fiddling with the radio, talking to your kids, drinking coffee, eating a cheeseburger, glancing at a map, fumbling for change, flirting with the chick in the next lane and letting a dog ride in the car.

No more traffic nazis making up stupid rules so the state can sock it to ya with a fine. 90% of the stuff people do in a car is dangerous...life is dangerous.

LOL , you cant be serious .......****ers cant drive as it is now, but thinking that doing those things you mentioned is as distracting as texting ? perhaps you are trying some new cold medicine right now , and not thinking clearly ........

[c_lazy_r]

LOL , you cant be serious .......****ers cant drive as it is now, but thinking that doing those things you mentioned is as distracting as texting ? perhaps you are trying some new cold medicine right now , and not thinking clearly ........


It depends on who the driver is. I trust my driving after drinking an 18 pack more than I trust my wife's or 16 year old daughter's on their best day.

[TailgateNut]

It depends on who the driver is. I trust my driving after drinking an 18 pack more than I trust my wife's or 16 year old daughter's on their best day.

Yikes!!!

[footstepsfrom#27]

LOL , you cant be serious .......****ers cant drive as it is now, but thinking that doing those things you mentioned is as distracting as texting ? perhaps you are trying some new cold medicine right now , and not thinking clearly ........
Eh...actually the most distracting thing on earth is driving with 6 women in the car. ;D I could concentrate easier if I were sending a text while downloading MP3 files, eating a chilidog and reading a book.

[c_lazy_r]

Yikes!!!



:wiggle:

The only good thing is that up here in MT you only have to worry about them running over cows or smashing deer.

Well, that's a small lie. Now that we are starting to get those electrical poles, you gotta worry about them too.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It's just one more excuse for cops to stop people. It's not an excuse Einstein but a reason to try ensure other people aren't endangered by stupid people (hence the stupid laws because of stupid people).

You people that continually try and make excuses for legislating "stupid laws for stupid people" as government intrusion need to wake up.

[mosca]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ninety-one percent of Americans believe sending text messages while driving is as dangerous as driving after having a couple of drinks, but 57 percent admit to doing it, a poll released on Tuesday said.
9 out of 10 want to ban it, but nearly 6 out of 10 admit to doing it ... ha! Which likely means that only 3 out of the 10 proposing to ban it will obey any ban on texting while driving.

I'm no fan of texting while driving by any means, under any circumstances - but on this issue I have the same opinion as talking on a cellphone. Let the pre-existing laws already on the books for things like careless driving, etc. deal with these morons - no need to draft up new laws just for this.

[mosca]

How is a cop going to be able to tell whether somebody is sending a text message or not while driving? He'd have to be literally riding right along beside you staring into your windows trying to get a glimpse of what you're doing. Is that really what we want...thousands of cops all over the country tailing behind or next to people with binocculars trained on the front seat?
I'd rather the cops kept their eyes on the road or the other cars, instead of peering into them trying to tell whether or not someone's texting ... doesn't sound like too safe of a driving habit for them.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

9 out of 10 want to ban it, but nearly 6 out of 10 admit to doing it ... ha! Which likely means that only 3 out of the 10 proposing to ban it will obey any ban on texting while driving.

I'm no fan of texting while driving by any means, under any circumstances - but on this issue I have the same opinion as talking on a cellphone. Let the pre-existing laws already on the books for things like careless driving, etc. deal with these morons - no need to draft up new laws just for this.Most states have no statues that deal with cell phone use as reckless driving, etc... time to to "deal" with it.

[mosca]

Most states have no statues that deal with cell phone use as reckless driving, etc... time to to "deal" with it.
Usually careless driving and reckless driving cover a wide variety of circumstances ... in this case, if a cop sees someone swerving all over the place while holding a cell-phone in their hand (something we're all familiar with), they can pull them over and ticket them for careless/reckless driving. Problem solved.

[W*GS]

Most states have no statues that deal with cell phone use as reckless driving, etc... time to to "deal" with it.

Does it really matter why someone is driving recklessly? If it's because they're texting or because they just heard on the radio that Al Davis bought the Broncos, the laws are already on the books to take care of the problem.

For some reason, BB, you want laws to multiply without limit. Are you a control freak?

[W*GS]

You people that continually try and make excuses for legislating "stupid laws for stupid people" as government intrusion need to wake up.

You need to quit trying to perfect people. And drop the elitism.

[W*GS]

If it has the potential to save my life while I'm driving to work or back home afterwards, or going to the grocery store, I'm all for it. If you are pissed off that you are no longer allowed to do something that could kill me, that's your problem, because it's no longer mine.

For quite a few years, I had no car and used my bike and mass transit for all my commuting. If I'd had the same mindset as you do now, back then, I would have demanded that your car be banned from existence. After all, banning your car "has the potential to save my life", and banning it is your problem, not mine.

[Bronco Bob]

Does it really matter why someone is driving recklessly? If it's because they're texting or because they just heard on the radio that Al Davis bought the Broncos, the laws are already on the books to take care of the problem.


So why have laws against drunk driving? Why have laws against driving
while high on drugs? Why limit to driving age to those over 16?
Why not let blind people drive? There are already reckless driving laws
on the books to deal with those problems.

[Bronco Bob]

For quite a few years, I had no car and used my bike and mass transit for all my commuting. If I'd had the same mindset as you do now, back then, I would have demanded that your car be banned from existence. After all, banning your car "has the potential to save my life", and banning it is your problem, not mine.

Wouldn't it make more sense to ban bicycles? After all, you could hit
a pothole with one and that might kill you too. Or a pit bull could
attack you. Or you you might get rained on and die of pneumonia.

[yavoon]

Wouldn't it make more sense to ban bicycles? After all, you could hit
a pothole with one and that might kill you too. Or a pit bull could
attack you. Or you you might get rained on and die of pneumonia.

the three laws are perfect, the three laws lead to only one conclusion.

[W*GS]

Wouldn't it make more sense to ban bicycles? After all, you could hit a pothole with one and that might kill you too. Or a pit bull could attack you. Or you you might get rained on and die of pneumonia.

Why would it "make more sense" when cars cause much more death and mayhem than bicycles do?

Or is it because your particular ox is being gored, so you get all upset?

[Bronco Bob]

Why would it "make more sense" when cars cause much more death and mayhem than bicycles do?



That's just because there are more cars and they are driven more
miles. If as many people rode bicycles for as many miles the deaths
from pneumonia from riding bicycles in rain and snow storms would
increase dramatically. I mean how many people die riding unicycles
or pogo sticks to work each year?

As a side example in regards to numbers, what wild animal kills the majority
of Africans each year?

[TheDave]

how would they enforce this?

[Bronco Bob]

how would they enforce this?

Probably the same way they do drunk driving or using drugs while
driving. They see a guy weaving all over the place. They follow
him for a while. They see him pounding away on his phone,
and they pull him over. I'd guess they would also confiscate the
phone and they probably have ways of checking to see if
it was used recently.

[yavoon]

Probably the same way they do drunk driving or using drugs while
driving. They see a guy weaving all over the place. They follow
him for a while. They see him pounding away on his phone,
and they pull him over. I'd guess they would also confiscate the
phone and they probably have ways of checking to see if
it was used recently.

then u'd get lingo like "this phone is hot" and "holy **** man cops, ditch the phone!"