Comments on: Obama Bans Texting While Driving for Guv Workers — And There’s More

By: Brandon Schlueter

Brandon Schlueter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:40:42 +0000

This law is great, the only problem is that it only makes texting while driving a secondary offense; to get a ticket for texting, a driver has to first get pulled over for something else.

Please join the outcry!

By: Buzz

Buzz — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:28:56 +0000

I think banning the use of cell phones while operating a motor vehicle…or bicycle…is a good idea, and like other motor vehicle laws, should be enforced as most other vehicle laws. If an officer sees you doing it or you fail to keep your vehicle under control as a result, you pay the hefty fine, including court costs, your insurance company will likely raise your rates, and you will be less likely to do it again. Same as seatbelt laws, helmet laws, driving without a license, dwi, etc. Banning cars or being monitored by Big Brother using a satellite or camera is a very Socialist way of thinking. I’ll take my freedom, thank you very much. Also, I have seen a number of bicyclists pull out in front of me, pass illegally, turn illegally, run stop signs and generally drive recklessly, including driving drunk. I would appreciate more fines being issued to these negligent drivers. In addition, I would like to see registration fees for cyclists on the road be more in line with that of what motorists have to pay. Cyclists are out there, wanting to use the roads…bunging up traffic just like the rest of us…no reason they shouldn’t have to contribute a few hundred a year for the policing and maintanance of roadways like I do. They should also have to pay for vehicle insurance to cover the costs of accidents they are involved in. Driving 20 mph in a 45 or 55 mph zone causes traffic flow problems and accidents.

By: JSD

JSD — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:01:28 +0000

It’s sad this is even necessary. With all the talk about cyclists being more responsible users of the road, you’d imagine less drivers would want to stare at a tiny screen, while thinking of what to say, while typing on a keypad, while operating a multi-ton steel machine at 65mph.

By: Hilary Kitasei

Hilary Kitasei — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:03:13 +0000

Enforcing bans on texting and telephoning in automobiles is one of the BEST ways to reduce use of private automobiles. As cars have become more and more like private offices, even congestion becomes ineffective as a tool to discourage driving. One of the best incentives for taking the cheap intra-city buses now is that they offer wi-fi. The city’s express buses should offer the same, and then run a huge ad campaign to publicize the difference (e.g., “You could be using your time to good advantage here, vs. you could be spending time in jail if you do it here…)

Enforcement, of course, is the issue. Where I live in lower Manhattan, there are probably 6-8 uniformed guards from various agencies being employed to deal with traffic at one intersection of the West Side Highway. About a third of the drivers sitting at a red light in front of them seem to be using their phones. Yet none of them has the authority to TELL them (much less arrest them) to stop. Or so they tell me..

By: gecko

gecko — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:34:41 +0000

this is probably a very good thing and easy to inforce since current cell phone technology includes global positioning and it should be relatively easy to determine if someone is texting and driving; almost automatic surveillance of people government employees and people with commercial licenses breaking the law; unless the accused can prove that other people were doing the texting.

By: Mark Walker

Mark Walker — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:39:44 +0000

While I have a significant amount of sympathy with the ban-cars comments, I think the real takeaway point is that driving — as currently constituted — is almost entirely an honor system, and most drivers are without honor. I’m not misanthropic enough to turn this into a grand statement about human depravity. Motor depravity is what concerns me. There’s something about sitting behind the wheel that makes ordinary people irresponsible. I don’t think better driver’s ed would help (though it wouldn’t hurt). The solution is to begin a phased transition away from driving, toward a walkable, bikeable, transit-rich terrain. The good thing about distracted driving is that it’s so outrageous, it actually suggests to a reasonable mind that maybe driving, as the main organizing principle in American life, has finally become obsolete. Gadgets have become like malarial mosquitoes injecting toxins into the great pulsing SUV of the American bloodstream. This just can’t go on … can it?

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:25:38 +0000

All this talk about banning texting while driving is backwards. The only injury caused by texting is sore thumbs. Driving is what causes 42,000 deaths a year, so how about we just ban cars?

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:23:27 +0000

I was thrilled with this until I saw the truck exemption. That’s like saying we’ll regulate firearms, but carve out an exemption for missile launchers.

Long haul truckers have it hard. It’s a boring job. If they want to knock back a fifth of whiskey while driving a ten-ton vehicle, we should let them. It’s good for morale and job satisfaction.

By: huricano

huricano — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:21:42 +0000

I find this whole debate a little out of focus, much like the drunk driving crusade. Of course, texting behind the wheel and driving enibriated are both dangerous habits, which require a public response. But the big issue is that cars are dangerous, and the best way to address these problems is not with regulations and police, but with walking, biking, trains, and buses.