The Virginian-Pilot
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Crazy as it may seem, there are motorists who send text messages with their cell phones while they drive.
For Del. James M. Scott, D-Falls Church, that bad habit needs to die off, and he's proposed a bill to ban the practice.
"I don't see how anyone can say they are paying attention to driving if they are texting," said Scott, the father of two grown children.
Not only would HB39 ban texting while driving a car, it would also prohibit the practice while riding a bicycle, an electric wheelchair or a moped.
"If they're text messaging, the only way to do that is with your fingers, looking at the keyboard," Scott said.
"If you're looking at the keyboard, you're not looking at the road."
Text messaging, which is particularly popular with teenagers and young adults, involves typing written messages using the keypad of a cell phone or a PDA.
Virginia State Police declined to comment on the proposed legislation.
If approved, Virginia would be at least the second state to ban the practice.
Earlier this year Washington state approved a law banning the practice for all drivers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Scott was among a handful of Virginia legislators who successfully pushed for laws that limit the number of passengers a new driver can have in a vehicle at any time and that restrict the behavior of teen drivers.
Earlier this year, a state law was passed banning drivers younger than 18 from using a cell phone while driving except in an emergency situation.
Scott said he hopes his bill this session will "help get the discussion going on what I think is a very serious practice for people who are in control of moving vehicles."
Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com
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I agree, ban everything if you're going to ban texting
It's simply the fact that unless you have 2 hands on the wheel and 2 eyes on the road, with no one in the car, no radio, no nothing while driving, you aren't 100% focused on driving-you are distracted. I don't know how it could be enforced. I think a good start however, is for the police to be watching for drivers who are looking down instead of straight ahead. That's a good clue that they are dialing, texting or reading. Oh, but wait, that reminds me of a situation I witnessed on the way to work one morning not too long ago. I was driving down Providence Rd in VB behind a police car who was going about 25-30 in a 45 mph zone weaving all over the road. Wonder what she was doing????
Wow...
I am amazed at the stupidity I am seeing here. Or maybe I am just confused, thinking I'm in the United States of America and I'm free... The rest of you obviously are not from My country. I have never seen anyone text while driving and I don't think they should, however, we do not need a law to cover it. People are distracted in many, many ways every day while driving. Kids fight in the back seat while parents are driving. Perhaps driving with children under 13 in the car should be banned? GPS devices and radio tuners are distracting. We should ban those too! Get a clue people. Cell phones are a part of most of our daily lives now and there is absolutely no reason a normal person can't take a cell phone call while driving. People who are incapable of handling it have a responsibility to accept that and not do it. Remember personal responsibility and accountability for one's own actions? Remember that???
Huh?
Robw? How long do you stay driving to and from work? That does not even make sense. Just what would you do if you didn't have a cell phone if little Johnny hurt himself? You wouldn't know till you got home. In any case, regardless or not, if ones child was hurt, there is absolutely nothing you could do for him except worry and you can't sue for worrying.
Banning responsible cell phone use would make no sense either.
So who's going to handle the lawsuit when my child gets into an accident at school, I'm driving to/from work and can't answer the school or hospital's emergency call seeking permission to have him treated in the ER? And all the spouses who's better halves call to say "Hey, I need you to stop for milk on the way home"? As already said as well, there are people that text without looking at the phone. They're actually doing a better job than the idiots who get distracted looking at the digital billboards on the sides of the road.
The issue, as always, returns to personal accountability. You, Joe Schmoe, are accountable for your actions. There's no reason that I should get the unearned right to be punished, just because you who have no consideration for others do something stupid, or because the people that live around me think their lives will get better when a government dictates things. If you're really afraid of the guy in the wheelchair texting one of his friends, then you shouldn't be worried about laws to prevent him from doing it while in his wheelchair. You should be more focused on therapy instead.
Gizmo, gadget invented yet?
Maybe we just need to counter attack these gadgets with new ones installed in vehicles that disable any cell phones while the car is moving. That would help in many instances. C'mon people, I know there must be one inventor out there that can do this!
Ban text messaging
It's becoming increasingly necessary to point out the obvious to those too selfish to care.
Enforce this?
How is this going to be enforced? How can an officer prove one was texting? They could be scrolling through their phonebook, or pictures. With internet capabilities and what not. Just because someone is tapping on their cell phone doesn't mean they are texting. This ban like all other bans are useless. People will continue to do what they want to do. Murder is illegal and people still tend to do that. This ban will only make people find sneakier ways of doing something. Why not ban the act of chaning the radio station? You have to take your eyes off the road to look @ the knob. There will always be distractions behind the wheel, that is a fact of life. Just deal with it. Driving is a dangeros game, and if you don't like it. There is always the bus.
As usual, you don't go far enough
Ban thinking. Do you know how many people are thinking about other things while driving? You can't tell, but there are too many of them causing accidents along with those other bad behaviours. Come on, just enforce the laws already on the books and hold people responsible for their actions. Anyone look at the code of VA lately? It's packed full of laws we all are supposed to know but don't because there are too many of them.
Cellphones make bad drivers worse
More than half the people on the roads are crappy, dangerous, and inconsiderate drivers (IMHO). Adding the additional task of talking on the phone (or even worse... texting) is like throwing gas on a fire. Every time I see someone do something dangerous on the road I try to get a look at the driver (I want to see what stupid and dangerous looks like). Nine times out of ten I see a cellphone up against their head, and usually they have no idea they almost caused a wreck (or maybe they're so selfish they just don't care). Easier to spot cellphone drivers at night too, look for the blue glow, then give them a wide berth.
Ban all cellphone use while driving, now!
Texting and more.
Instead of passing laws, hold people who cause th accidents responsible! Make the fines and penalties severe enough that they WON'T be texting while driving. Here's a thought - If you cause an accident while texting on a phone, you are solely responsible for all damages, not your insurance co.