Ban on Texting while driving?

[SolitaryThrush]

Common sense law, and it's remarkable that we still need commercials, and laws, to tell people not to text while driving.

Now let's just have them start fining jaywalkers. Stand along Forbes Ave., and at $50 they'd not only rake in the money but maybe, eventually, convince people that in some of the most walkable neighborhoods in the city you don't have to blindly meander into traffic or cross a busy road wherever.

[sskink]

Let's skip over the texting while driving thing for a second since it seems all but one person on this entire thread believe it should be illegal. I'm kinda stunned at this point:

Originally Posted by algia

I don't have health insurance thanks to the overweight population making premiums impossible to afford for the normal people who respect their BMI's

Huh? First, end-of-life care costs dwarf issues with obesity or even smoking when looking at the pie-chart of where healthcare costs go.

Besides, the Affordable Health Care Act was created to make it permissible to raise premiums on obese people & smokers. Congrats on having a reasonable BMI and all that, and obese people should lose weight on principle alone, but the entire history of health care costs disagrees with your conclusion.

You can take a look at this from a conservative view: Why Are U.S. Health Care Costs So High? - Forbes

or from a progressive view: Why Does Health Care Cost So Much in the United States? | The Rundown News Blog | PBS NewsHour | PBS

In neither case is the underlying issue obesity as it relates to current-day health care premiums. Rather, it's a problem with the entire medical delivery system, which has moved away from primary care to specialists and the over-reliance on expensive testing and pharmaceuticals, perhaps due to fear of malpractice suits (which suits the insurance industry just fine).

If you can prove fat people text more while driving, we'd have something.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by sskink

If you can prove fat people text more while driving, we'd have something.

They should drive less & walk more

[algia]

With billboards like these...no wonder people think "eating" is all they have to do in their lifetimes! (Look at what's being advertised)!

Higher medical costs are higher because we have to maintain "dr's statuses" of owning Jaguars, and other high end vehicles to be stuck in the same traffic a Corrola does!

I don't buy this, you know why? because nobody is forcing anyone to shove large amounts of food down their throats! Restaurants can cut portion sizes in half, and STILL feed someone for two days.

Eating is necessary, but is not supposed to be another "killer"! (unless chocking)


This is NOT to prove fat people text more...this is about who is driving in front of you that you may hit! & that you many not know what ability they have to get healthy again/walk again/talk again etc etc etc.

Originally Posted by sskink

Let's skip over the texting while driving thing for a second since it seems all but one person on this entire thread believe it should be illegal. I'm kinda stunned at this point:



Huh? First, end-of-life care costs dwarf issues with obesity or even smoking when looking at the pie-chart of where healthcare costs go.

Besides, the Affordable Health Care Act was created to make it permissible to raise premiums on obese people & smokers. Congrats on having a reasonable BMI and all that, and obese people should lose weight on principle alone, but the entire history of health care costs disagrees with your conclusion.

You can take a look at this from a conservative view: Why Are U.S. Health Care Costs So High? - Forbes

or from a progressive view: Why Does Health Care Cost So Much in the United States? | The Rundown News Blog | PBS NewsHour | PBS

In neither case is the underlying issue obesity as it relates to current-day health care premiums. Rather, it's a problem with the entire medical delivery system, which has moved away from primary care to specialists and the over-reliance on expensive testing and pharmaceuticals, perhaps due to fear of malpractice suits (which suits the insurance industry just fine).

If you can prove fat people text more while driving, we'd have something.

[algia]

Originally Posted by algia

With billboards like these...no wonder people think "eating" is all they have to do in their lifetimes! (Look at what's being advertised)!

Higher medical costs are higher because we have to maintain "dr's statuses" of owning Jaguars, and other high end vehicles to be stuck in the same traffic a Corrola does!

I don't buy this, you know why? because nobody is forcing anyone to shove large amounts of food down their throats! Restaurants can cut portion sizes in half, and STILL feed someone for two days.

Eating is necessary, but is not supposed to be another "killer"! (unless chocking)


This is NOT to prove fat people text more...this is about who is driving in front of you that you may hit! & that you many not know what ability they have to get healthy again/walk again/talk again etc etc etc.

P.S. I don't think fat people can even text, the size of phones these days are for slim 2 year olds! hahahahahahahaha (Unless they use some sort of pen to do it)

[Tallysmom]

I just don't know how you can call it unenforceable. Every one I know has been pulled over for not wearing a seat belt at some point -- and not pulled over for other things and they caught them.

And police are pulling over drivers holding cell phones and yakking (not legal here). If they see it, they will nail you.

AND -- cops are going after jaywalkers, too. Our pedestrian death rate has been very high out here. It's running about 50/50 that the pedestrian is at fault -- they step into oncoming traffic yakking on their cell phone or engrossed in texting.

It's not altruistic, though -- but maybe in PA, your police departments aren't feeling the economic pinch to generate income....

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

I just don't know how you can call it unenforceable.

Because you are still allowed to do other things on your phone while driving (mess with your gps, read the news, look up pandora, etc, etc) - thus unless an officer is close enough to see exactly what you are doing with your phone then unless you admit to it its a bit hard to prove.
As noted you might be able to through phone records, but unless a serious accident occurs, its hardly worth the time & effort for the department to get said records.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I work two jobs. I typically work M-F 8-4:30 at one job and then 5-10:30 at another job as well as shifts at one of my jobs on Saturdays and Sundays. I'm behind the wheel of my car pretty much just as many hours per week as I'm asleep. As such I will admit to texting while driving and will continue to do so. I've texted while driving for years and have never been in an accident that was my fault. All of my recent accidents here were determined by the police, witnesses, and insurance adjusters to be entirely the fault of other drivers. Until I actually have a close-call that may serve as a "wake-up call" to me I'll continue to text while driving. I simply wouldn't be able to maintain a healthy social life at all otherwise.

I am sorry if your social life has to suffer so that my kids, and other people, are safe on the road. You are not super human. Your ''close call" may well result in someone's death.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Until I actually have a close-call that may serve as a "wake-up call" to me I'll continue to text while driving. I simply wouldn't be able to maintain a healthy social life at all otherwise.

Wow! I hope that texting is not really more important then your life!


AT&T Don't Text While Driving Documentary - YouTube

[Icy Tea]

This is kind of interesting. I took my mother to the doctors the other week and while I waited outside I watched the traffic pull up and drive past at a stoplight right in front. I kept track of who did what as they either stopped or drove past.
Some people talked on cell phones. Probably under 5%.
Slightly fewer smoked. under 5%.
A few drank sodas or coffees. Maybe 1 or 2%.
One girl brushed her hair while driving.
One older man prayed when he stopped. At least it looked like praying; hands his clasped in front of his face like Sherlock Holmes. Maybe he was thinking and waiting for the light to turn.
Two grooved to whatever music they were listening too. Hands waving, heads nodding to the beat.
3 or 4 talked to the passengers beside them. Turned and talked to them. I can talk to passengers and never take my eyes off the road.
One truck driver looked at a clip board briefly then put it down. He was driving through and not stopped.
I didn't see anybody texting, not even once.
Anybody who texts while driving is a moron and a hazard to everybody on the road. There should be extra penalties if they cause an accident.