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Entry bubble Texting and Driving: A Lethal Combo?

By: Jake | October 12, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

Happy Columbus Day! Back in 1492 Columbus had a lot to worry about on his voyage, but he didn't have to worry about the La Pinta, La Nina or Santa Maria crashing into each other because of a sailor texting while behind the helm.

Today the issue of texting behind the wheel has gained international attention. A recent study released by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute finds that texting while driving, while not as lethal as drunk driving, can be quite dangerous simply because it takes a driver's eyes off the road. The video from the United Kingdom that I've included at the bottom of this post (warning- it's graphic) hammers this message home---in arguably a sensationalized way.

Some states have outlawed texting while driving and surveys suggest the public agrees with banning it. Last week President Obama issued an Executive Order banning federal employees from texting while driving when using government vehicles or phones, or while on government business.

I'm guilty of texting at the occasional stop sign or red light but it's impossible for me to text while driving. I've never really been a great conversationalist on the road either but it's because conversation always takes a back seat to what's going on on the road.

What do you think about texting while driving?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: texting_and_driving  

Comments (6):

blue comment bubble Posted by Jess on October 12, 2009 at 10:35 AM EDT

Oh man my friend sent me that video a couple weeks ago and it was nasty and gruesome for sure. But I think it got the message across.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Roger on October 12, 2009 at 11:29 AM EDT

This texting while driving issue does have a hands free possible solution. There are computer programs that allow the hands free use of devices and cell phones are one of those devices. People wear a little device on their clothing or ear or nearby and a Bluetooth - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth - for more information on that, can be used as well. http://www.apple.com/iphone/iphone-3gs/voice-control.html gives more information on voice control or http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=voice+control+software&ei=utf-8&fr=ie8 gives sites found by Yahoo that you can visit.
Rather than going to all the fighting to ban texting why not just require that it must be done hands free?

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blue comment bubble Posted by eyes on the road! on October 13, 2009 at 11:53 AM EDT

Cars should block cell phone signals, with the ability to possibly plug 1 phone into a hands free kit built into the car.

this is too hazardous to allow to continue.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Tom Pain on October 14, 2009 at 01:44 PM EDT

This will surely work just as well as the anti-DUI laws, which of course have totally removed DUIs from the roads.

They already have laws on the books that should take care of this--e.g. you can be ticketed for inattentive driving.

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blue comment bubble Posted by ESSWLP on October 22, 2009 at 04:16 PM EDT

It's really astounding to find that so many people text while driving. The common incidents of texting while driving illustrates that people will lose complete regard for their own safety just to have a conversation with someone. While states have enforced laws prohibiting drivers from even talking on cell phones, it seems unreasonable to allow drivers to text, an action that requires the driver to completely take his/her eyes off the road. President Obama's recent executive order that bans federal employees from texting while driving is a clear stepping stone to the ultimate necessary goal of establishing a national law that bans texting while driving.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Rosie on October 29, 2009 at 12:21 AM EDT

It is amazing that we are in such a rush neglect our safety. Wow, if we had the technology to text during the era of the horse and buggy would we do it? What is the compulsion?
I think that it should be treated as a Federal crime.
As much as I enjoy blogging I restrict it and texting to stationary postions. Oh, don't get me wrong if I thought it was safe to text/blog while moving I would consider it. But I am so thankful that I am a baby boomer who now knows see the value of life.
Thanks for this post.
Also, consider viewing some other safety related articles that appear from time to time on beintheknownj.org

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