Texting while driving.

[Tobin S.]

In my state it's illegal to text and drive.

I was driving down a two lane highway yesterday and came upon a group of cars that was traveling between 40 and 50 mph in a 55 mph zone. There was a green SUV that was leading the pack and driving erratically. Nobody could pass because of oncoming traffic so we had to follow this SUV for several miles until the two lane opened up into a four lane and we could pass.

The SUV stayed in the left lane of the four lane so everyone had to pass on the right. I looked over as I went by and the driver was texting, oblivious to traffic. Then I saw some lights behind me and a police car coming up on the SUV. The cop pulled her over. He must have seen what she was doing in a little town we rolled through.

That's the first time I've seen someone get pulled over for texting. I thought it was one of those laws that they put on the books but didn't choose to enforce very well unless there was an accident. Not so yesterday.

[TexasTowelie]

1. It would have been illegal in Texas starting September 1,

but the Gov. Oops Perry vetoed the bill.

In Texas, the driver of the SUV would get a ticket for obstructing traffic based upon the circumstances described.

[quakerboy]

11. Ive driven through a majority of the US States

And Texas was the only one that had a live updated "x number of people have died on the roads of Texas this year, be careful" sign as we entered

Actually, Texas was the only one where I noticed any sort of sign about people dying, come to think of it.

[In_The_Wind]

2. It's illegal in New York and has been for years.

[jakeXT]

3. I still have to watch that Herzog video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017137811

[hamsterjill]

4. I saw a woman almost have a head on collison the other day because she was texting.

She was at a stop light and had obviously been texting while stopped Her light turned green and she took off continuing to text. She completely veered into the lane of the opposite side where another driver waited his turn for a green light. The male driver had no way to move because there were cars beside him.

At the last second, she realized and thankfully corrected. Then...she continued on down the road happily texting.

It needs to be illegal and police officers need to give tickets. It's always the idiots who think they are smarter than everyone else and can multi-task better than everyone else who do it. Then they want to say "I'm sorry" when they've hurt someone or caused damage. If a text is that important - pull over!

[Bucky]

5. I used to. But I broke myself of the habit...

... before happenstance could permanently break me of all habits.

[Goalie49009]

6. I see Police do it in their cars while driving here

[quakerboy]

12. A lot

About half the time when I see a cop they are on the phone, either texting or up to the ear.

Its illegal for the rest of us in Oregon.

Not that that stops everyone. Its a rare drive when I dont see someone driving while phoning.

[hobbit709]

7. I see people texting constantly no matter what they are doing.

I was in line at Torchy's the other day and this twit was so busy texting that she didn't notice the cashier telling her the total of her order.
I saw another twit so busy texting that he walked right on front of a car at an intersection.

[dr.strangelove]

8. I have driven past people putting on makeup, shaving to say nothing of

the occasional sex acts. Driving is serious and should be treated as such. Whatever you need to do that is distracting, do it either before or after you leave.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. GOOD.

Half the drivers on the road today shouldn't be driving under even the best of conditions.

[lastlib]

10. HOO-OOOOOOO-RAAAYY!!!

String 'em up--on the town square. Make an EXAMPLE of 'em!

[Jenoch]

13. I have sent about 14 texts in my entire life.

It just does not appeal to me. Of course I didn't get a cell phone until 2006 either.

[pipi_k]

14. Not that it will ever happen, but...

one thing I would like to see, as part of driver's ed training, and perhaps again during a road test, is a required simulator test whereby the testee must text and perhaps do other things while "driving".

Then maybe along with that, the drunk driving simulator using the funky glasses.

And then...just to top it all off...a trip to a hospital ER to see people brought in with life threatening injuries. Of course, it would all be staged, but they wouldn't know that.

I don't think anything is going to work short of visual impact, and even then, it's not going to penetrate for some people. But even one less idiot texting or drinking and driving is a good thing.

IMO.