Texting and Driving May Become A Primary Offense (law, dangerous)

[Caladium]

Delegate Lionell Spruill wants to make texting while driving a primary offense so the police can pull someone over when they see them texting and driving. Currently, people can only be ticketed for texting if they are pulled over for another offense. (BTW, the fine for doing so is a $20 the first offense and $50 thereafter.)

Spruill said he filed the bill this week because drivers who are texting are causing a lot of accidents, but police have no power to pull someone over if they see drivers texting.

Opinions?

Texting and driving may become a primary offense*|*Virginia Statehouse News (http://virginia.statehousenewsonline.com/2560/texting-and-driving-may-become-a-primary-offense/ - broken link)

[Fern435]

I hope this bill passes. Texting while driving is very dangerous, especially with the traffic around northern Virginia. If some form of communication via texting/cell phone is necessary, then the driver should find a safe place to pull over to do the texting.

[ICS67]

This common sense piece of legislation is way overdue, but of course, since it's common sense it probably won't pass.

(Sent from my Blackberry while driving on the outer loop of the Beltw...CRASH!)

[kutra11]

Is there any data that suggests texting causes accidents? While I always thought as-a-matter-of-fact that "talking on the cell phone" should be a primary offense, as per data, rubber necking was a larger cause of accidents than talking on the cell phone!

[Gaffer]

While driving a 3000 or so pd machine that can seriously injure, mame or kill if not handled properly a distraction as talking on the phone or worse yet texting should be a primary offense with a heavy fine. It is near as dangerous as driving drunk.

[Gaffer]

Originally Posted by kutra11

Is there any data that suggests texting causes accidents? While I always thought as-a-matter-of-fact that "talking on the cell phone" should be a primary offense, as per data, rubber necking was a larger cause of accidents than talking on the cell phone!

Check out this link for statistics:
Car Accident Cell Phone Statistics & Driver Text Message Facts

I doubt rubber necking causes more accidents than cell phone usage. Can you refer me to a site with statistics that show otherwise?

[tgbwc]

I never text. I don't even carry a cell phone. But, what about putting on make-up while driving, reading a book, reading the newspaper, eating, reading a map, messing with the GPS, looking down at the radio, shaving, digging through the glove box, looking in your wallet, looking through your purse, turning around to talk to your child...? There are so many ways a driver can become distracted. There are already laws about not paying attention while driving. No one reason for distraction is worse than another. Do we really need legislation about individual causes?

[dcsfanatic]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

I never text. I don't even carry a cell phone. But, what about putting on make-up while driving, reading a book, reading the newspaper, eating, reading a map, messing with the GPS, looking down at the radio, shaving, digging through the glove box, looking in your wallet, looking through your purse, turning around to talk to your child...? There are so many ways a driver can become distracted. There are already laws about not paying attention while driving. No one reason for distraction is worse than another. Do we really need legislation about individual causes?

While what you are saying is true, texting and driving seems to be an epidemic and is a very, very stupid thing to do. I have no problem with special legislation for it.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by dcsfanatic

While what you are saying is true, texting and driving seems to be an epidemic and is a very, very stupid thing to do. I have no problem with special legislation for it.

I understand that it is a stupid thing to do, but so is anything else that takes your eyes off the road. We have laws that say a driver needs to pay full attention while driving. We have laws against reckless driving. I think we will be over-legislated if a law needs to be passed addressing each individual distraction.

[Caladium]

Of course, you can argue that we're not really adding legislation. The legislation is already in effect--all that's changing is level of the offense.