Texting Behind the Wheel: Big Deal or NBD? - May 11th, 2007
Let’s be honest, there are just some things you don’t need to be doing behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. I’ll let your imagination fill in most of those gaps, but yesterday the state of Washington nailed one big techno-offense to the floor — texting. Yes, I’ve done it, and I suspect many of you have too. And yeah, for the record, on a safety scale of one to ten, sending text messages while driving bumps a minus five.
It’s not a perfect law. It can only be enforced when the knuckle-head motorist has committed some other vehicular misdeed and the fine is only $101 - but it’s a start. Current data suggests that more than 158 billion text messages went out through the ether in 2006 with numbers for this year expected to be even higher. Other laws designed to cut down on cell phone use behind the wheel have failed to specifically mention texting as forbidden behavior. If you’ve ever known anyone with a Blackberry (or is that Crackberry?) you’ll agree that’s a major loophole. If talking while driving is supposed to be distracting, one would assume typing with your thumbs might be even more so.
I’m as tech-addicted as the next person and here’s my take on this kind of behavior. You have a perfect right to do something stupid and get yourself killed. You do not have a right to do something stupid and kill someone else. I’m guilty and I’m repenting. I can’t imagine getting to read, “OMG, WTF INBD WDALYIC,” is worth a life, including my own. Bottom line, when you’re behind the wheel, just enjoy driving. Stay connected with the road, not your buddy list.
Posted on May 11th, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: lifestyle |
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