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 ...
More nanny state BS. Ban changing the radio channel while driving. Ban adjusting your mirror while driving. Ban eating while driving and drinking any liquid while driving. Where and when is this BS from the feds going to stop?
Well, then we’d also need to get rid of bicycles; and bathtubs; and swimming pools; and . . . you get the idea.
impaired driving is impaired driving.
Every study done on ANY type of cellphone usage while driving has shown that it impairsthe drivers response times. Even handsfree devices have been shown to impair the driver.
I do not even answer my phone when I am driving and my vehicle has built in bluetooth.
Maybe some people see this as an infringement on their rights, but the last thing I want is to be injured or kill by some idiot gossiping about some garbage.
Well, you should.
At least as Rush explained it, Obama is making it illegal for Federal Government employees to text while driving. I'm not sure how he can do this, but let's assume that he does it.
Who is going to enforce this? Are we now going to have the FBI (I for investigation, BTW) or some new Federal Gestapo patrolling our roads and highways? Does it matter to you that traffic laws are State laws? Does it matter to you that we're supposed to all be subject to the same laws, you know equal protection, and this clown wants to have laws that only apply to one segment of the population. Unless, of course, he sees us all as eventual employees of the Federal Government.
Sure, texting while driving is dangerous and stupid. But let's not tolerate "laws" by decree from even our Dear Leader.
ML/NJ
Texting while driving (or putting on makeup, or reading, or working on a laptop, or any other act other than keeping full attention upon driving) is not “IMPAIRED” driving. It is “DISTRACTED” driving. These are behaviors of choice that some people engage in. Impaired driving is not a behavior of choice after the person enters the vehicle and begins to drive - rather, it is a behavior the person no longer has control over once the choice to drive impaired has been made. If I’m driving and texting, I can choose to either stop that behavior or pull off the road and continue my texting. However, if I am impaired, I do not have the immediate ability to change that behavior (whether due to alcohol, drugs, or medications). I will be impaired while driving until such time as the cause of the impairment wears off. Forgive my lengthy rant, but there is a clear difference.
With cell phones having GPS this shouldnt be a problem to program in. If you are moving more than a certain speed, texting doesnt work. Sort of like my *#$ GPS navigation unit. I can’t program it until stopped.
Would suck if you were a passenger tho.
Imairment doesn’t have to be drunk or pills. You can be tired. You can be sick.
They are impairments.
when your hands are off the wheel and you are pre-occupied with hunting for text characters on a keypad, you are way more than just “distracted”. You are not paying attention to the road and cars around you.
Put down the electronic pacifier and drive.
I don’t want to see Federal enforcement over local municipalities when it comes to private individuals driving.
But federal employees fall under the control of the federal government.
And ultimately the taxpayer is responsible for bailing out the damages they cause.
Is anyone here ignorant enough to think that if a LEO sees you texting while driving that they will not pull you over and ticket you for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle?
I think it would make much more sense to have a war on bad drivers.
Have you tried vinegar soak and Vapo-rub?
What? Are you nuts?
Some guy is driving home from work some place in Maryland and you get into an accident with him; and now you're going to ask him who he works for? And then sue his employer? Get real!
ML/NJ
Everyone would have to be in the automated vehicles and not be able to control the vehicle. Too many times during my commute do I see people whip across lanes where there isn’t room, causing people behind to slam their brakes to avoid the collision.
This then becomes very similar to public transportation, which really sucks.
well, it’s not like the states have a right to federal $. If you want federal $, you have to meet federal conditions. Otherwise raise the money yourself.
There are already public servants who are having accidents on the job.
Look at the homosexual who was texting while driving a rail line.
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You have to look to private industry to find restrictions (like no smoking) on off-hours activity.
Federal highway funds come from gasoline sales in those states. Already there is an unequal distribution (southern states give more into the system and New England takes more out).
Given how much land there is in “flyover country”, it is as Barack would say “economic injustice”.
Aaahhh!!! But there's the catch! The federal government doesn't make any money. Where does federal money come from?
Why not just INACTIVATE texting on all US phones? That would take 10 minutes for the Telco’s to accomplish.
If directed at me - I do not text while driving. Nor do I use a handset cell phone while driving. I do use a bluetooth, but only rarely do I answer calls while driving and then for an extremely short time, and with eyes focused on the road (in front, on sides, to the rear) at all times. You are correct to say impairment includes being tired or even sick. But, I disagree that using a cell phone to text, or reading, or any other “activity” while driving is an impairment - it’s distracted driving - it’s dangerous - it should never be done - period. Anyone responsible for an accident while attempting to text, read, put on makeup, use a computer, etc, etc, should not only be held fully responsible to the highest degree by law and civily, but should have their drivers license revoked permenently.
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