Texas Bans Cell Phone Use While Driving - Sorta

[R K T]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Illegal to text or talk on a phone unless hands free is CA. I'm fine with that. CA banned calls and then a few months later passed another bill on texting.

And that had zero effect! Every other car has a driver doing everything EXCEPT paying attention to driving.
Not to profile anyone....but it's usually a teen-early 20s and more female than male.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

My mobile phone is for MY convenience NOT other people's. Even more so with emails. I don't check my emails until I have time to answer them.

Hey Stick

You folks south of the line have no exclusivity when it comes to morons at the wheel whilst dicking about with their personal electronic devices. We have laws here against this sort of conduct but they (the laws) seem largely unenforceable to a vast majority of offenders as the practice still borderlines on epidemic proportions. I fear it will be a long time before this dangerous habit is eliminated from the driving public's standard operative procedure. I guess a cure to this might be more campaigns to raise public awareness, something along the lines of the anti-drunk driving adverts. It just isn't that safe on the roads with all the distracted driving going on at present. As far as the Texas legislation banning cell phone use - if nothing else, it is a start.

Cheers
JB

[RKDinOKC]

There is already an enforceable law. It's called...Failure to devote full time and attention.

Got a ticket for that when 16 and hit a parked car across the street from a nice looking young lady dancing naked on her front porch. Good thing I had slowed way down.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by R K T

And that had zero effect! Every other car has a driver doing everything EXCEPT paying attention to driving.

Yep, I commute the L.A. freeways five days a week and hardly a day goes by I don't see someone playing with their phone... roll up on someone in the left lane doing five MPH under the speed limit... I pass on the right... sure enough, cell phone pressed to the side of their head.

And yes, I have heard from a few LEO's that we don't need laws prohibiting cell phone use (texting or talking) because that cam be interpreted as reckless driving which has been on the books for years.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

There is already an enforceable law. It's called...Failure to devote full time and attention.

This

Jack, if you think you have it bad in Texas, try living in Kalifornia. I go down and talk to my legislative representatives about once a year. So far it has had no discernible impact, other than a nice postcard from my Senator. Oh, and the legislative assistant women recognize me when I come in to see their bosses.

They need to make the fines higher and confiscate the phone. I see someone on their phone behind the wheel every single day. Last night was going in to do a free consult on a couple Medi-Cal patients and the gal in front of me almost hit the cement barrier between the East and West bound trying to negotiate a curve on the interstate.

I stay as far from people as possible on the road.

[pwd72s]

Triggers a memory of passing a new beetle on I-5. Young driver, maybe 5 feet behind the semi trailer he was following, texting away. Remember thinking I was happy to be ahead and wouldn't see the very possible carnage.

I only have a "dumb" trac phone. $100 worth of minutes lasts us more than a year. I laugh at the phone ads on TV, call ours the $8.33 per month plan. Wouldn't have bought it except there are no more pay phones. When I drive alone, it's off. Cindy has made a few calls from the passenger seat when we're together.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by Tobra

This

Jack, if you think you have it bad in Texas, try living in Kalifornia.

I stay as far from people as possible on the road.

Yo, Toby..

We can debate who has the worst state government til the cows come home as they are polar opposites. however, what is the heat index in Kalifornia today? at 3 PM it was 106 here and not even summer yet. Do you even have heat indexes in KA ??

Used to be that when you saw drivers going to slow or swerving in their lane you assumed they were DUI... now ?? I just assume they are on their cell phones. and stay as far away as possible also.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by RKDinOKC

There is already an enforceable law. It's called...Failure to devote full time and attention.

Got a ticket for that when 16 and hit a parked car across the street from a nice looking young lady dancing naked on her front porch. Good thing I had slowed way down.

You are correct of course but the problem with that is you are leaving it up to the driver to determine whether or not they are devoting full time and attention.

It's like my friend last week. "...but the ban unfairly punishes responsible drivers..."

To reiterate, my reply to that was responsible drivers don't pick up their phones.

In his mind, and the minds of far too many, they THINK they can text and still drive responsibly so they do.

There is no ambiguity in "Don't touch the phone while you are in the drivers seat."