Road Texters

It seems that the ever expanding digital age has fundamentally changed the way that we interact with one another. First we moved to the cell phones and email, suddenly we were able to speak to each other no matter where we were. We had the ability to send messages to someone across the country and it was there in seconds as opposed to days. It was as this time that we began to see the arguments for the safe use of these new means of communication while doing everything from flying to driving. Bans on speaking on a phone while in the car were reviewed in every state and report after report came out about how deadly talking on a cell phone can be while driving. We never did come together and agree on what was and was not appropriate use of phones while driving. But it appears that we are trying to avoid that same problem with texting.

Texting has become the primary source of communication for so many Americans, particularly young Americans. More and more the ability to speak to multiple individuals, all without saying a word, is becoming the preferred means for interpersonal relationships leading to thousand dollar phone bills and some very cramped thumbs. In the last few years, the same arguments that arose during the beginning of the cell phone age have begun to arise in the texting era. This time, however, the legislative bodies are trying to avoid the same disorganized effort that prevented all cell phones being banned from use on American roads.

While currently less than 20 states have banned texting while driving, a bill is being pushed forward that is moving the country to laws in every state that would ban texting while operating a vehicle. The bill was not free from running into its own potholes. One of the largest came when the Governors Highway Safety Association came out in opposition to the bill claiming that such a ban would be too difficult to enforce, that was, until the president of the organization actually went and spoke to the members of the association which comprises of the government officials that are responsible for highway safety in each state. Earlier this week, the group reversed its position stating the various studies from places like Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Now the bill, which will require that each and every state passes a law to ban texting while driving, is expected to make it through the legislative process and passed into law.

Is the federal government going too far? No, the need to protect drivers is the responsibility of federal government as well as the local governments. It has been ever since Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway system. For those who think that the ban may simply be over reacting to scare tactics used by supporters of the bill, think again. According to the University of Utah, drivers who are intoxicated are 4 times more likely to get into an accident than a sober individual while those who are texting while driving are 8 time more likely to get into an accident than a sober attentive driver. Why is texting so bad? Texting requires that the driver removes his eyes from his surrounding and focus on their cell phone, some times as long as 10 or 20 seconds.

We should be happy that the government is trying to protect us for others who fail to realize the severity of their actions until after the damage has been done. Those individuals like the bus driver in the video above often care more about their personal lives than they do about the safety of those around them on the road. This is when legislation is necessary. It protects those of us who know how dangerous it can be to drive while distracted. Most of us have see the car that is swerving to stay in their lane because the driver was looking down at their phone, and then 20 seconds later they have to swerve again because they just had to tell Stacy what Sue said.

We should also point out that the GHSA was right in seeing that they made a mistake and correcting it. Yes it might be inconvenient for someone to have to actually wait to send a message, but what is so hard about making a call instead. Keep your eyes on the road. We all want to get home safe. Lets help each other do that.