California Bans Texting While Driving

September 25, 2008

  • September 26, 2008 at 10:07 am
    Dread says:
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    RG’s comments are squarely on point. Driving a vehicle on a public highway has always been and should always be a FULL TIME JOB REQUIRING 100% FOCUS AND ATTENTION. I don’t know who took it upon themself to think it is anything less just because you have technology toys. Those who think they can “multi-task” while driving an automobile are fools. If you MUST take/make a call on the road, have enough sense and respect for MY LIFE and pull off and make/take your call. With a little prior planning and time management nobody needs to be on the phone while driving. As for texting while driving, that’ pure stupidity and even worse than talking while driving.

    The only way to get stupid people’s attention is to hold them accountable and make the consequence of their refusal to obey the law meaningful. Let’s start with a $1,000 fine for having a cellphone up to your ear…….for the first offense. Quite frankly, I’d support a severe beating or public floggine in lieu of a monetary fine because some people just don’t get it.

  • September 26, 2008 at 11:33 am
    Brokette says:
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    If California was serious about making driving safer there is a multitude of people who shouldn’t be allowed to drive but they’ll never to anything about THAT because, God forbid, they should be accused of “profiling”.

  • September 26, 2008 at 11:43 am
    Thinker says:
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    OK, so we have a law currently about talking on your cell while driving and come January 1 we will have a law that will hopefully deter would be txters from txting while driving. What about other things that distract drivers? The smoker who lights up a cigarette and possibly takes their eyes off the road to not only get the cigarette and then light it. Then while they are smoking they ash out their window and finally throw their butt out on street when done. How about eating and drinking while driving? There are other distractions that should be looked at if we want to make our roads safer.

    It is true that just a few years ago cell phones were in their infancy and very expensive. I think we need to remember that owning and using a cell phone is a luxury and not a necessity.

    When the new law went into effect rather than deal with a headset (which I do have and use) I normally get in the car, turn my phone on quiet so it doesn’t ring or vibrate, and drive to my destination. When I get there I check my phone. People can wait until I am ready to get back to them especially when it involves me arriving in one piece to where I’m going.

  • September 26, 2008 at 12:09 pm
    Stat Guy says:
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    Ricki, I’m with you; but this came up before and I found that there are a lot of people who can’t get enough work in the office or at home who work while driving. I think it is compulsive: knowing they can call, text or email, they won’t let an hour go by without doing SOMETHING! I would be nice if these people had friends or some other diversion to occupy their time so that they can stop the blah-blah-blah but I think they just can’t help being a windbag. Call me old fashioned but they need to get a life and/or another job. A friend of mine is always on the phone when he’s in the bathroom and he loves calling it “multi-tasking”, I call it just plain stupid to be so impatient; no room in his life for down time.

  • September 26, 2008 at 1:16 am
    Brokette says:
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    I’m sorry that y’all have an image of someone who uses their phone in the car as a “windbag”. The reality is that there are occasions when clients/assistants/children need to talk to me and I happen to be in transit. These are not hours long calls. They are short and to the point. Honestly, I find the use of an earpiece/headset much more distracting than a simple handset. That’s why I don’t talk in my car anymore. Frankly, I’m tired of being judged at work and in society by the lowest common denominator. I don’t need the nanny-state to tell me what’s safe and what’s not.

  • September 26, 2008 at 5:29 am
    lastbat says:
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    I agree that I don’t need a nanny state telling me what to do.

    I also agree that for this to work the fines have to mean something. Start off in the hundreds and go up from there. Nobody is going to worry about a $50 fine. And they sure as heck won’t be thinking about the uptick in their insurance rate from the violation.

  • September 29, 2008 at 11:44 am
    Stat Guy says:
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    Brokette, from the sounds of your posts, you seem to be quite aware of your driving and cell usage. By all means, if you can do so safely, all I can do is express concern and caution you. But that’s more like preaching to the choir; the fact is that there are too many people driving and on the phone who are engaged in a telephone conversation that has nothing to do with business; these are the folks I called “windbags”. I see them chatting away animatedly and it reminds me of my sister who would talk all evening with her girlfriends. These are just blathering drivel and they have their place but not while driving. If I offended you, please accept my apology.

  • September 29, 2008 at 12:29 pm
    Brokette says:
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    Oh, Stat Guy, thanks for the apology. I really DO enjoy a spirited debate and never take offense, even when the name calling starts (which it usually does). Life is frustrating sometimes and even more so when you’re not guilty of the infraction but limited by the statute made to keep others in line. No harm, no foul. Thanks!



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