Sixteen-year-old Sarah Taylor knows what texting while driving could cause: danger for the person behind the wheel and anyone else on the road.
That’s why the North Charleston teen thinks it’s a good idea that the state might stop new drivers from using their phones while on the road. But will they listen? That’s another question.
“I do think it will be a big uproar if it does actually go through,” Sarah said. “Nobody is going to follow it.”
The bill would allow law enforcement to stop 15- and 16-year-old drivers if they are caught text messaging or talking on a phone without a hands-free device, although the provisions allow for emergency communication.
The issue pits personal rights against safety concerns and is sure to be controversial when the House debates the proposed legislation, said Rep. Bob Walker, R-Landrum.
“You know as well as I do, all of us, young people included, are going to be distracted, listening to the radio, talking on our phones, eating food,” he said.
Talking on a mobile telephone impairs most people’s walking. Just follow them and watch how they become somewhat disconnected from their surroundings.
Driving is more complex—and dangerous to others—than walking. If we love our neighbors as ourselves, we’ll be careful about the circumstances under which we mix driving with telephone calls much less text messaging.
No law, but driving demands 100% attention. If you are not willing to do that then turn in your license.
It should be illegal to use a cell phone driving a vehicle. We all need to be protected from those who do this. Safe highways are a responsibility of the government. Nothing is so urgent that it can’t wait until a person can pull over and talk on the phone after the vehicle is stopped.
In the early days of my being an electronics engineer I worked for an electronics division of a well known electric company nestled in the Virginia hills. The company sold two-way radio communication equipment. We did produce hands free systems and the state made it very clear that you kept both hands on the wheel of your auto. If you were involved in any accident large or small you could spend some jail time for it. How things have changed-for the worse I believe.
The numbers for “accident while driving and talking on a cell phone” are pretty comparable to driving drunk.
I can’t find it quickly, but I read about a study suggesting that even talking on a “hands-free” set while driving is dangerous. Apparently it’s much different than talking to someone who is actually in the car with you, because that person is aware of the driving conditions and will without even thinking about it pause the conversation when the driver needs to concentrate on a tricky situation. A person on the other end of a phone can’t do that.
Drving while talking on a cell phone is just as bad as fixing your coiffure while driving or batting your kids in the back seat for fighting. And it’s just plain stupid. If you have a front seat passenger, let him or her handle the phone. If you’re alone and if you’re able to do it, pull off the road and use your phone. If you can’t, and if the phone rings, let it ring until the carrier’s answering service picks up the call. You can always call back.
While it is certainly true that using a cell phone while driving distracts a person, I think what is even more important in this article is the telling remark that “Nobody is going to follow it.” This comment betrays the culture of rejecting authority, usually on the basis of ‘it doesn’t apply to me,’ (also known as pride).