Illegal to text on your cell phone while driving....

[benjy]

Enforce those laws, they already cover the behavior

Should DUI only be enforced if the person is swerving/driving recklessly? I feel at that point it's too little too late in many instances.

I text occasionally but as a pretty good driver I feel challenged to do both well.

Every driver thinks they're an above average driver

 

[jdub]

Have I almost hit you?

 

[GOAT]

It's sad that laws like this ever have to be considered.

Totally agree here.

People who text while driving are complete tools. However, those giant LCD billboards or one with a half naked girl could be just as "distracting" while driving. Mose newer billboards have quite a bit of text to read.

I was in Albuquerque last year and was surprised how good the drivers were there. They seemed to be paying attention and more courteous. I'm not saying this is why (but think it is) but about have way into my stay I found out it is against the law to use cel phones while driving there. Since then I have been all for that law to get passed. Yes there are a few talented ones that can text and drive, talk and drive...even drink and drive, the majority can't. Every time I come up on someone weaving around in their lane or driving 10 mph under the speed limit I can bet that person is talking on a cel phone. I consider myself a very defensive, capable driver but you will rarely if ever see me on the phone while driving and if you do it is less then a 10-20 sec conversation telling the person to hold on while I pull over or that I will call them back. I find if I talk on my cel phone and then think back to what was happening while I was driving when talking on it I can't remember...I was just like countless other drivers following the bumper in front of me. I don't want to be that type of driver. I want to be the type of driver that drive defensively...knows the vehicles around him at all times and plan escape routes if something were to happen. I think it is much safer to let it go to voice mail or pull over and talk if I'm expecting a call I want to take.

Jest of it is...I'm all for it and more.

Medsker

Wow, I lived in ABQ, the drivers have apparently come a long way since 2000

SLC does have terrible drivers either way. I've never seen anything like it, and I've driven in Mexico.

 

[gijohn40]

and just yesterday I saw a female driver for dominoes that has her cell phone out and I thought she was txting until I noticed that it was the gps screen... she was using her cell to find the place she was going to... and so she was totally focused on the cell as it told her where to go!!!

and yes I did call her manager and complained...

But this leads to another tech item that is causing problems... when are they going to pass a law against the use of Gps units in the car.... they are a distraction and for some stupid people that like to turn right when it says to but fail to notice that there is a sign that says road closed and they wind up in a big ditch....

 

[Spork]

Maybe it's just the anarchist in me or hatred for the mommy state but I think this new law is stupid. I'm waiting for next year when they pass a law you can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I commute to west valley every weekday and am constantly behind idiots on a cell phone but I don't think a law is going to help. The law will simply be another way to get money from you. I've noticed most people on a cell phone slow down to increase distance to the car in front of them so they are no longer going 80 down the freeway. Idiot cell phone users going the speed limit who do they think they are.

 

[GOAT]

and just yesterday I saw a female driver for dominoes that has her cell phone out and I thought she was txting until I noticed that it was the gps screen... she was using her cell to find the place she was going to... and so she was totally focused on the cell as it told her where to go!!!

and yes I did call her manager and complained...

But this leads to another tech item that is causing problems... when are they going to pass a law against the use of Gps units in the car.... they are a distraction and for some stupid people that like to turn right when it says to but fail to notice that there is a sign that says road closed and they wind up in a big ditch....

Exactly!

Don't forget all the new A/V devices as well.

 

[Rusted]

Here is a copy of the bill they are working on

http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/hbillamd/hb0290s01.pdf

It specifies text messages and email. But it also adds that if you commit a moving violation while on a non-handsfree device. Also it adds penalties to anyone who is grooming or searching for anything while in a moving violation.


I really think that it should be worded better than it is.

 

[Medsker]

Totally agree here.

Wow, I lived in ABQ, the drivers have apparently come a long way since 2000

This was just 6 months ago...and I was comparing it to Utah drivers

 

[Meat_]

Why don't we just cut to the chase and outlaw stupidity? Make it punishable by death.

 

[Spork]

Why don't we just cut to the chase and outlaw stupidity? Make it punishable by death.

That would get rid of all the people that make these laws...

 

[GOAT]

That would get rid of all the people that make these laws...

 

[jdub]

Also it adds penalties to anyone who is grooming or searching for anything while in a moving violation.


I really think that it should be worded better than it is.[/QUOTE]

I've seen some of that on the freeway. Gross.

 

[OREGON85]

I guy my wife went to high school with was just sentenced to 90 days in jail and about a gazillion hours community service for killing most of a family while texting and driving. When he gets out for the community service he will have to go to high schools and give presentations on the dangers of texting and driving. In the few minute before and after the wreck he sent something like 250 text messages.

 

[Sumo]

I guy my wife went to high school with was just sentenced to 90 days in jail and about a gazillion hours community service for killing most of a family while texting and driving. When he gets out for the community service he will have to go to high schools and give presentations on the dangers of texting and driving. In the few minute before and after the wreck he sent something like 250 text messages.

Whoa! Am I missing something here??? He gets 90 DAYS in jail for KILLING most of a family???

Maybe I'm missing the point here, I suppose some people may be able to text with the about the same level of distraction I have just reaching over to change the radio station, but the people I've seen texting can't even stay in their own lane!

I've done my share of stupid things on the road when I was young and stupid(er), but would never ever even remotely consider texting while driving.

 

[phatfoto]

I find that most people that text while talking with others to be very inconsiderate. And to text while driving is even worse as you aren't focused on the job at hand.

Seriously. If you have the time to text, you have the time to talk. I don't text at all. I personally think its stupid. But thats just me. I admit to using the cell while driving, but anyone I talk to has also had me drop the call due to situations around me.

 

[DOSS]

That is because your cell service sucks rog and other reasons that I don't blame you for but think are funny none the less

I admit I don't text and drive cuz I seriously SUCK at it so it is a good law if only to keep the honest honest

 

[EROK81?]

I only read to about the middle of this page, but I think this is an excellent idea. Even if it isn't enforced 100%, at least it might "scare" people to not do it.

I've been behind a co-worker while she is texting and driving and she was all over the road. I think I am an excellent driver, 17 years driving, minimal tickets, no accidents, etc and when I text there has been a couple times where I was drifting out of the lane and once almost rear ended someone. I don't care who you are if traffic stops suddenly are you are texting there is a good chance you'll hit the person in front of you.

So anyway, yeah I think it's a good idea.

One last comment. I have almost been hit plenty of times on my motorcycle. Guess what 90% of those people that came the closest to hitting were doing at the time.

 

[Spork]

So here's a question for the masses. I was on my way to work today and stopped at a red light. Can I check pages at that point? or would I be ticketed?

 

[Cherokeester]

Everyone complained about a seatbelt law when it was first intruduced. Now people wearing belts is in the high 90 percentile. Before, very few used them and more people complained about the new law. "How are they going to enforce it?" and "It is my life" etc. etc. Now pretty much everyone has seen the light. It would be the same with this new distraction law. I approve. I am tired of watching people swerving all over the place because their phone just went beep with a new message from their girl or boyfriend.

 

[Cody]

I've been known to text and drive...or more accurately I will read a text while driving but I don't typically respond. Either way it is definately a distraction.

But, I would MUCH rather they more strictly enforce and punish people that throw their ****ing cigarette butts out the window. It absolutely disghusts me. Next time you're in a left hand turn lane next to a raised island, look at all of the cigarettes laying there against the island. Lets not even get into the distraction of fiddling around for your smokes, lighting them, then smoking them while driving.

It shouldn't matter what is causing the behavior...fact it that it is illegal to swerve or not pay attention. Regardless if it's texting, emailing, doing your makeup, eating your Big Mac, smoking, smacking your snot-nosed poop machines, or communicating with the hooker that is....never mind. Point is, you don't have to make the cause of an infraction illegal, if the infraction itself is illegal.