Mass. Bill to Ban Texting While Driving Includes Insurance Surcharges

January 25, 2008

  • January 25, 2008 at 10:35 am
    Joe Baker says:
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    Well, I’m just an ole Arkansas auto adjuster but Ah reckon if the man doesn’t break the law, it won’t cost him a dime, and he won’t have to worry about it, but then I’m not a trial lawyer. :-)

  • January 25, 2008 at 2:11 am
    Jersey Joe says:
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    A ban or statute is one thing. Enforcement is another. If this is just knee-jerk reaction after an incident, then it does nothing to avoid the issue in the first place.

    Living in a hands-free cell zone, I can readily attest to seeing way too many folks still going without headsets or speakerphones, instead continuing to hold the phone with one hand and goodness knows what else in the other.

    And these folks are frwquently in the left lane, driving slower than anyone else.

    I recommend the following to anyone the next time they have to shift into the right lane to pass a cell violator hogging the left lane – get back into the left lane and tap on the brakes just hard enough to light your brake lights. Then watch Mr. or Ms. Gottacall wake up as they spill coffee, drop phones, lose cigs whatever.

  • January 25, 2008 at 3:12 am
    Masschusetts Agent says:
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    Someone needs to tell this genius that surcharges in MA go directly to the good
    drivers as credits, not the insurers.

    I’m looking forward to my credits increasing based on the number of people I see talking and texting daily.

  • January 26, 2008 at 9:14 am
    wudchuck says:
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    in the article a congressman said it was going to cost him $140@month. first of all, did he violate the law and was found guilty? NO! because it has not become law yet. secondly, the surcharge will only be to those that violate the law and get cited/found guilty. does this mean that this current congressman is going to have to pay more attention? YES! again, it make sense to me. to many folks hang onto the cellphone, listed to onside of the car, one hand on the wheel and eyes only in front of the hood. they don’t scan or check to see what is either behind or beside them. i came to work yesterday and was almost hit by a person driving a van on the cell phone. the van does not have a lot of windows, so you would think this person be more aware. NO! as i continued past him, after blowing my horn — sure enough he was on the cell phone. text msg, just as bad, i know i can’t text on my phone w/o looking at the keys. my phone in the car is for emergency. if i need to call, it will wait til i get off the road or i have someone else in the car that will answer the phone for me. again, it’s going back to being a responsible adult. if you have a drivers license, remember this is a priviledge and not a right. it can be taken from you. kids represent not only themselves but their parents as well. rememeber parents, you for 2 reasons are responsible:

    1) you allowed them to get a license.

    2) you allowed them to have a cell phone.

    actually there is a third reason:

    3) you placed them on your policy as a driver of your vehicles.

    (one more minor detail – they are you minors and ultimately are your responsibility).

    so let’s get real and get responsible. in some cities, they passed a law that if you are on the cell phone at the time of the accident – you are just to blame because you might have been able to prevent the incident.

  • April 18, 2008 at 3:45 am
    Cape Peter says:
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    Texting should NEVER be allowed while the wheel, talking,I’m not so sure. As for any windfall for the insurance companies, why can’t the fines go toward road repair?

  • April 19, 2008 at 8:06 am
    JJ says:
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    First of all he is not talking about the fine. He is talking about opening another loophole for insurance companies to increase policies. Also in my experience anyone distracted by a cell phone, probably drives distracted even without it. Why is it OK to put on makeup but not talk on a cell phone? How many people actually drive with two hands on the wheel? I am not saying that talking on the cell phone while driving is right, I am saying that people do all sorts of other things while driving that we would have to make so many more laws, why not just make an unsafe driving law and leave it up to the policeman.Oh wait I think a policeman can pull you over for unsafe driving already. I will say I cannot imagine how anyone can text and drive, but then I am a bit older, and can barely text while sitting at a desk.

  • May 7, 2009 at 3:30 am
    Anonymous says:
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    I think that if someone is on the cell phone, certainly they cannot use their directionals if they are holding the phone in one hand, driving with the other hand and then no hand for directionals. There are too many people driving these days not to be totally paying attention. I don’t have a cell phone and don’t like them. They have totally permiated everywhere you go – I don’t want to have to listen to another persons conversation – rude!



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