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Stop Sign Ahead for Texting While Driving? (Obama Will Stop It)
AP ^ | 10/01/09 | KEN THOMAS

Posted on 10/01/2009 9:56:35 AM PDT by nickcarraway

Determined to stop people from texting while driving, the Obama administration plans a campaign similar to past government efforts to discourage drunken driving and encourage the use of seat belts.

The administration planned to offer recommendations Thursday to address the growing safety risk of distracted drivers, especially the use of mobile devices to send messages from behind the wheel.

"We can really eliminate texting while driving. That should be our goal," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, declining to provide specifics of the recommendations.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cellphones; dwi; textdriving; texting
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1 posted on 10/01/2009 9:56:36 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I have no problem with this.


2 posted on 10/01/2009 9:57:22 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway
When they pry my PDA from my cold dead hands!

Actually, I think cellphone OK, texting bad while driving.

3 posted on 10/01/2009 10:00:09 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine (Is /sarc really necessary?)
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To: dfwgator
"I have no problem with this."

I don't like people who text and drive either, but I do have a problem with the federal government holding states hostage to federal funds in order to make states do something the fed has no authority to control.

"Their legislation would require states to ban texting or e-mailing while operating a moving vehicle or lose 25 percent of their annual federal highway funding."

4 posted on 10/01/2009 10:00:22 AM PDT by avacado
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To: nickcarraway

They could use Tweeter, to send everyone text messages about the dangers of texting and driving. The messages could include a callback number, for more information.


5 posted on 10/01/2009 10:00:28 AM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: nickcarraway

Hey BO

After you bring about world peace, social justice, universal healthcare, an end to racism, personally design a better car for GM, and stop people from texting while driving-

I have this nail fungus I’d like you to look at


6 posted on 10/01/2009 10:00:37 AM PDT by silverleaf (If we are astroturf, why are the democrats trying to mow us?)
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To: nickcarraway

The answer is really pretty simple. Do away with cell phone texting altogether. If cell phones are not capable of texting, then, no more distracted drivers due to texting. Never mind that pesky little issue of personal responsibility.


7 posted on 10/01/2009 10:01:45 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
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To: nickcarraway

Why don’t you pick me up and burp me and tuck me into bed and read me a story while you’re at it, Ray?


8 posted on 10/01/2009 10:03:14 AM PDT by denydenydeny ("I'm sure this goes against everything you've been taught, but right and wrong do exist"-Dr House)
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To: nickcarraway
Another war on something or other.

The only thing this will do is provide more job security for trial lawyers.

9 posted on 10/01/2009 10:03:45 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Ask not what the Kennedys can do for you, but what you can do for the Kennedys.)
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To: nickcarraway

All they have to do us utilize the GPS function (built into the phone) in the text program. If you are moving at a rate greater than 10 miles per hour, then the texting function would be disabled.

The trouble would then be that you could not send texts if you were on a bus, train or riding in the car with someone else driving.

What I can see, and what I woudl approve of, is a charge of INTENTIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO AN ACCIDENT - with a very substancial fiscal and legal liability. Text and drive, get in an accident while texting; you just gave up a huge fine, and are liable for a percentage of your income for the next ‘x’ years.

Text and kill someone through involuntary manslaughter - bump the involuntary manslaughter charge to voluntary manslaughter.

Make it hurt enough, and people will comply. If little missy and junior wanna text on their way to high school; then mommy and daddy lose their home. If mommy and daddy can’t or won’t teach their kids the basics; then Mommy and Daddy can pay the costs of their offsprings indescretions.


10 posted on 10/01/2009 10:06:31 AM PDT by Hodar (Who needs laws .... when this "feels" so right?)
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To: SoldierDad

Ah, maybe we need to keep the cell phones with texting but get rid of all the automobiles! That would make everything green, too! We all know how many people automobiles kill.
(Sarcasm)


11 posted on 10/01/2009 10:07:42 AM PDT by HopeSprings
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To: nickcarraway
It is so very easy to electronically block driver only cell phone usage while in a moving vehicle. There are many existing technologies out there already to do exactly this.

Of course the government's intent will not be to actually stop it, but to make money off of it via fines and to use it as an excuse to search and seize property.

12 posted on 10/01/2009 10:12:29 AM PDT by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: nickcarraway

Good luck enforcing it.


13 posted on 10/01/2009 10:17:54 AM PDT by Feasor13
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To: nickcarraway
I just sent this missive to my Congressman. Of course this more than solves the problem and creates jobs and wealth so.....

:Auto Auto!

The 2004 Toyota Prius was offered with an automatic parallel parking option that costs $1980. I asked myself, If the vehicle has a built in servo system to control the accelerator and wheels to perform a parallel park maneuver what else would be needed to produce an auto which could drive cross town, state or country? The US Navy has developed a GPS based automated landing system for its carrier based aircraft. Boeing has tested a commercial grade GPS based landing system on a B-737 which has proven accurate to with 6 feet of the planned touch down point on a runway.

Suppose we enlist the support of the high tech industries and schools in the DFW area. We ask them to deliver a system for $1980, which would address the whole commute issue. I’m not a traffic engineer but isn’t routing packets on the Internet and automobiles on North Central the same thing? Could the likes of Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems, Alcatel, Northern Telecom and other Telecom corridor enterprises build the necessary control system for the automobiles and design the network architecture for the DFW highway network? Would the same GPS that provides precision guidance for bombs deliver our cars to our work destination? Would the MapQuest driving instructions be the basis for automatic automobile control systems? Would our Engineering schools at SMU, TCU, UTD and all those other characters, (no not the engineers!), lead the way?

The cell phone system already tracks our cell phones. GPS location finding capabilities are existent. A fully automated traffic light system with school zones and other situations properly addressed would speed up our commutes. If the DFW area decided to produce such a system and test and debug it in the local area would we create jobs? When successful, would we own a system that could be sold to other cities around the world? Would we create additional jobs and wealth for the Metroplex? I repeat, the Metroplex has the engineering, communications and aerospace companies which can produce a real 21st Century transportation system. It would be efficient and effective! Heck, we might also build a Metroplex commute vehicle which carries two people, the minimum of cargo and gets extraordinary gas mileage. It might look like a 1960 MG Midget and we would export that vehicle along with the transportation control system. I have been accused of being a dreamer! But I can dream can’t I?

14 posted on 10/01/2009 10:19:42 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae Cum Ita Sunt - Julius Caesar "Since these things are so!">)
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To: nickcarraway

but Officer....I was just sending a contribution to MyBarackObama.com.....


15 posted on 10/01/2009 10:19:45 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: nickcarraway

Had a very close call on I40 while trying to text and drive.

Never going to do that again.

Cell phone use is by comparison no problem at all.


16 posted on 10/01/2009 10:19:56 AM PDT by Sherman Logan ("The price of freedom is the toleration of imperfections." Thomas Sowell)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

See my post! Solves boeth problems


17 posted on 10/01/2009 10:21:42 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae Cum Ita Sunt - Julius Caesar "Since these things are so!">)
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To: avacado

See my post! Solves both problems


18 posted on 10/01/2009 10:22:06 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae Cum Ita Sunt - Julius Caesar "Since these things are so!">)
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To: SoldierDad

See my post! Solves both problems


19 posted on 10/01/2009 10:22:29 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae Cum Ita Sunt - Julius Caesar "Since these things are so!">)
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To: Hodar

See my post! Solves both problems


20 posted on 10/01/2009 10:22:52 AM PDT by Young Werther ("Quae Cum Ita Sunt - Julius Caesar "Since these things are so!">)
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