Do you think text messaging while driving should be illegal?

Question

Many news stories keep surfacing about motorists texting while driving. Now, talking on a cellphone is one thing, but texting...you might as well purposefully drive into oncoming traffic. What do you think about texting while driving and talking on a cellphone without a handsfree device should be illegal and what do you think should be the punishment? If you want to see a sample of the news click this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070714/ap_on_re_us/crash_five_killed

Go ahead and star this question so more people can see the news story and the danger of texting while driving.

Answer 1

Yes, texting while driving should be illegal. Also, driving while on a cell phone should be illegal state wide, not just in a few states.

To me, they are just as bad as driving drunk. YOU do NOT have your full attention on driving safely!

Answer 2

I agree--texting while driving is ALOT different than talking on your cell. I think it should be illegal, and the punishment should be a standard ticket (say a couple hundred like a traffic ticket) and it should also depend on the situation. For example, the speed limit you are driving should play a role in the amount of the ticket, and of course, if an accident occurred due to the driver texting.

Answer 3

Driving should be the only thing on your mind while driving. Yes Text messaging,cell phones. DVD players all the nonsense should be banned.But to make matters worse in this case you had a bunch of immature teenage girls that should not have been driving in the first place. The parents of these kids the local law enforcement should all be made responsible for this mess.Nothing was said about the poor truck driver that was affected by all this stupidity.

Answer 4

yes it should,its bad enough people talk on the cell phones all the time ,now their text messaging all the time,pretty soon they wont look at the road none,i do think there going to have to crack down some on drivers because the cell phone thing is bad enough,2 out of 3 drivers you see now will be talking on a cell phone while driving,and that is dangerous,the laws need to change on this,good luck hope this helps.

Answer 5

Experts say there's no way to know for certain how many crashes are caused by drivers who text, but a recent national survey by Virginia Tech showed distracted drivers are to blame for eight out of every 10 accidents.

Answer 6

Most deifinitely it should be illegal. Anything that distracts you from driving is way too dangerous. Earlier this week on my way to work, I saw a driver in the lane beside me reading a newspaper!!! Idiots!!!

Answer 7

hello,
Whether its text messaging talking on the cell or mobile phone should be illegal because it interferes with the concentration when behind the wheel. But people will never learn their aim is to hurt the innocent.

Answer 8

Yes. So should shaving, applying makeup, reading, and any other distraction. In Arizona, it's not illegal to watch DVD's or play video games while driving. It will be soon, though.

Answer 9

sure it should be illegal and the punishment should be wreckless driving.

Having both hands on the device and looking at it while you are driving is just plain dangerous and people can and have been killed due to this.

Answer 10

It shouldn't have to be, people should be smart enough to know it is dangerous and refrain from it. But people are stupid enough to believe that something that is not against the law is okay to do, that is why we have so many laws and are always passing new ones.