Should Texting While Driving Be Banned?
Proponents of a law forbidding the use of hand-held devices behind the wheel say distracted motorists are far more likely to cause roadway accidents. Critics argue that though texting while driving is dumb, laws against it are unenforceable. Is a ban the way to go?
Edited by Steve St. Angelo
Yes
By Carolyn McCarthy
New York Democrat serving her seventh term in the House of Representatives
As a member of Congress,
I work to pass comprehensive, common-sense legislation that will benefit average Americans. With the same fervor I had when I was first sworn in to office in 1997, I seek common ground on issues that I believe will make our country stronger and safer each and every day.
I had always known of the dangers of distracted driving, and it should come as no surprise to the American public that when drivers are preoccupied with tasks that take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, it most certainly creates unsafe and potentially fatal scenarios on the roadways....
No
By Radley Balko
Senior editor for Reason magazine; former policy analyst on civil liberties issues for the Cato Institute
Forget flu season. Several times per year, America comes down with a national case of TOBAL-itis.
TOBAL is short for "There Oughtta Be a Law." Here's the progression of symptoms: Wrenching anecdotes about the effects of some alleged new trend make national news. A panic takes root in the media. Earnest editorialists scrawl urgent pleas for action. Politicians grandstand. Soon enough, we have our new law or regulation. It doesn't matter if the law is enforceable or may have unintended consequences....
What do you think?
Reader Comments
...
i'm a teenager and i think that texting while driving should be banned.
"tobal-itis" is a made-up word, and although sometimes we do get alittle power hungry and want to make a law for a stupid situation, there are also laws that should be enforced. i've had a friend DIE from texting and driving...it could have been avoided if there was a law.
texting and driving
I think that not only texting, but also even talking on a hand held cell phone should be banned. too many drivers don't focus on the road when they are talking on a cell phone even if they are looking at the road and those looking down at the phone to text or search a contact list are clearly a hazard.
Texting while driving Is like sleep driving or sleep walking
Who Knows what world your in when you had your accident. Some may be able to handle it but Most Cannot So all Texting devices should have a gps switch to shut them off while going faster than 10 miles an hour or what is considered safe by the people affected by such decisions (which is us).
Don D Brock
advertisement
