Should States outlaw DWT(driving while texting/talking)?

Question

I read an article this morning about an effort in Seattle to ban driving while talking on the phone, writing, texting, & other forms of distracted driving. I've seen plenty of very dangerous driving on the roads. I saw someone (during morning rush hour on the DC beltway) driving, talking on the phone (with the bent neck on the shoulder), holding cup of coffee, and eating a sandwich! I've seen someone doing a crossword puzzle on the steering wheel. (anyone who lives around DC knows you can see this as slow as you are going). Seen reading a stack of paper (probably work reports that should have been done at home-or work!). Smoking, eating, drinking, talking- at once!

DC has a no hand set law. You MUST use an earpiece if you are driving. Cops are the biggest violators of the law! I see them driving with DVDs playing on the dash! How can they enforce laws they dont chose to follow?

I would love to see laws passed. Even more, enforced!

roger n:
what you are suggesting, requires new laws! Making a law stricter, or more severe due to being distracted, would require a change & addition to the law. Yes, there are tons of laws, but if they are not being followed, they need to be adjusted.

You probably have never had a close call b/c you did not NOTICE you did! That is the prime example of people thinking they can do more than they can.

Answer 1

As an officer, I've seen and also personally been run off the road by others who were chatting away on the cellphone! I've watched one driver flipping through a stack of photographs just picked up from the store while others read papers or text over their handheld devices.

The one comment about police with a "DVD" should not be confused with the computer system used by many departments that provides communication and information over a separate system from the already overburdened radio systems in the patrol cars.

Our society has seen a recent upsurge of fancy gadgets and equipment that the "average" driver is purchasing to use in their daily lives. Being unaccustomed to driving while using these new devices, they become disconnected from their attention to driving versus the new gadget. Not that police are better drivers...but they have strict regulations in force while using their equipment to include on-board computer devices so that distractions are minimized.

My own patrol car is equipment with hands-free in those devices that have the availability. As for cellular phone use...I do as I recommend to others...pull to the side of the road!

Best wishes!

Answer 2

Personally, I think that there should be something done about doing certain things while in the driver's seat of a car. You can't make a law saying that you can't do anything that would distract you from driving, cause then you would have to take out all car radios, air conditioners, windshield wipers, and several other things that take our attention off of the immediate road ahead of us and the cars around us.

I do think that we need laws saying that dvd players and such should not be allowed in the front seat area, or even some that say you have to be a certain age or pass a training course to talk on a cell phone while driving. I can talk on my cell phone and function behind the wheel very well, but I have seen other people, especially people younger than I that really shouldn't be driving and talking or texting at the same time.

Another problem with making the laws, is how do we enforce them? If an officer does not see these violations, there is no way to enforce it. Most cell phone have speakerphones on them now. That is how most people talk when they drive on the military base here. On post it is illegal to talk on the cell phone at the same time driving. And they will pull you over and cite you if they catch you doing it.

I do agree though that somethings need to be done to make the roads a little bit safer from the guy reading a book going 50 m.p.h. down a highway.

Answer 3

I think all states should pass a law, that it is a violation to be doing anything but concentrating on driving. I live in Tennessee, I see things all the time. Yes police officers are just as guilty as the rest, and they should not be above/exempt of the law. But they wear the uniforms, and the courts automatically sides with the officers, so the justice does not work equally. Question: who is going to police the officers?, But still something needs to be done .

Answer 4

Yes. As a matter of fact many states and cities in the US are passing laws and ordinaces that require people to use hands free devices while driving. Here in New Mexico, Albuqurque and Santa Fe have passed laws making it illegal to be on your phone while driving; however, I don't know if it includes texting, it should. I think phones are a huge distraction when driving, so I support these laws.

Answer 5

You people and "let's make more laws" drive me nuts...
Stop making new laws and enforce the existing ones.
If someone swerves, pull them over and cite them for dangerous driving.
Make the punishment more strict. If there's an accident, keep it as usual. BUT...If there's an accident because someone was on the cell phone, then, stick it to them with a heavy fine.
I'm sure there's plenty of people that have the ability to talk on a cell phone and drive at the same time. I have done this for many years and all the time and I have NEVER even had a close call. Just follow the basic rules...LOOK before you move and everyone will be ok.

Answer 6

I would just as soon like to see them enforce the laws already on the books. We don't need more laws, we need less laws. We cannot legislate stupidity. If someone wants to do something stupid like say...text message a friend while driving then they deserve the consequences of their actions. Obviously if they were to kill someone else as has happened around where I live, then that is very regrettable. Luckily, they will pay for that mistake while sitting in jail for the next 20 years or so. But still we do not need to start legislating stupidity or else we are going to have so many more laws on the books people are going to forget most of them. Lets take many of these laws off the books and start enforcing the real laws of this country...like arresting and deporting illegal immigrants. Thanks and have a nice day.

Answer 7

No and for some motives. i comprehend deaf people because of the fact of being in contact in a volunteer artwork. maximum deaf are very careful while they force. think of approximately it...they can't pay attention an ambulance or firetruck while it has that is siren is blaring. they're very unsleeping of what different autos are doing so they comprehend while to tug over. although, the DMV would not say, we are unlikely to furnish them a driving force's license because of the fact they sign instead of communicate. With that pronounced, there's a distinction between texting or speaking on the telephone on account that would not would desire to be carried out on a similar time as using. and better, the deaf person does would desire to be careful, he ought to endanger others, so incredibly you prefer the two hands on the wheel as much as attainable. in the event that they do no longer look to be being careful, the police do have an precise to end them.

Answer 8

YES! This is one of the most dangerous and stupid things I've ever seen.

WTF is so important that you can't wait till you stop?!

If I'm ever in an accident because of some @sshole on a cell phone, I'm going to tear that person a new one!

Answer 9

Yes - but why not just make ONE law, about driving while distracted? There would have to be specific definitions added so the law would not be too vague, but yes we should make sure people are driving safely.

Answer 10

I think that a hands free law would suffice.

There are times when I NEED to be on the phone...but I use an earpiece.