I know that I need to take a more active role, but I am wondering from those of you from states that may already have EFFECTIVE laws or legislation on this… what tips, advice, etc., you have?
I’m of the opinion that if you hit a cyclist with your car…it should be negligence per se… plain and simple.
Honestly, I am seeking ideas, etc, to get the ball rolling here…there are some in our area who are already diving into this, but I’d like to do my part as well… raise awareness. I love my home state, but there are way too many idiot drivers out there.
I don’t have the details but its currently under way. I heard on the radio yesterday that if state legislation doesn’t come up with a plan, the federal government will cut their highway funding severely.
it doesn’t really seem sensible to create micromanagement laws to ban each little new thing people come up with to do while driving.
just reword reckless driving to include any type of behavior like this.
I don’t have the details but its currently under way. I heard on the radio yesterday that if state legislation doesn’t come up with a plan, the federal government will cut their highway funding severely.
Instead of passing yet another law that you cannot realistically enforce, why don’t you work on getting them to put teeth into the criminal negligence laws and start using those against people who cause wrecks? Push for real jail time for causing these things rather than a slap on the wrist but don’t push for another nanny state law that honestly cannot be enforced.
Passing legislation will do nothing in a country where laws are not enforced. It is illegal here in California and every other person driving down the road is on their phone or texting. People run red lights/stop signs right in front of cops and they don’t do anything.
Also, it is already illegal it is called reckless driving. If they are not going to enforce that law why would they enforce another?
Instead of passing yet another law that you cannot realistically enforce, why don’t you work on getting them to put teeth into the criminal negligence laws and start using those against people who cause wrecks? Push for real jail time for causing these things rather than a slap on the wrist but don’t push for another nanny state law that honestly cannot be enforced.
x2.
The only deterrent is a higher level of punishment. Would you speed if the fine was $1,000 per mile over the limit?
In Quebec, they passed a cell phone while driving ban earlier this year. You must be on a handsfree. There is no provision, specifically, for texting. So far, they have given out thousands of $135 tickets, and - in my observer sample size n=1 - it has done very little to change habits. It has been a boon to the Blue-tooth headset retailers.
The issue with texting while driving is that it is not visible to the police officer in the way that a phone pressed to your head is. Texting - or worse, BB emailing - is done below the window threshold and cannot be easily proven. You cannot do spot checks for it, like drunk driving, and you cannot test for it after the wreck.
The article you linked doesn’t say that she was texting; just that she was reaching for her phone in her purse. I say raise insurance rates by 25%, and then rebate it back only to those who are willing to install short-range signal jammers in their cars…
I know that I need to take a more active role, but I am wondering from those of you from states that may already have EFFECTIVE laws or legislation on this… what tips, advice, etc., you have?
Locate the local advocacy groups and get involved with them. Or, start an local advocacy group. Write your state legislators and local municipal leaders. Let them know that people are interested in this. Get others to follow suit.
I’m of the opinion that if you hit a cyclist with your car…it should be negligence per se… plain and simple.
Instead of passing yet another law that you cannot realistically enforce, why don’t you work on getting them to put teeth into the criminal negligence laws and start using those against people who cause wrecks? Push for real jail time for causing these things rather than a slap on the wrist but don’t push for another nanny state law that honestly cannot be enforced.
YES. I totally agree. Put people in jail for KILLING with a vehicle. I don’t care if it’s deemed an ‘accident’, if you kill someone, you should go to jail. People are incredibly reckless the second they get behind the wheel, but if there were dire consequences for driving with your head up your ass, people would change. People tend to discount fear of death, believing they are invincible, but if there are more ‘realistic’ consequences, like jail time for your actions, I really think people could change.
Instead of passing yet another law that you cannot realistically enforce, why don’t you work on getting them to put teeth into the criminal negligence laws and start using those against people who cause wrecks? Push for real jail time for causing these things rather than a slap on the wrist but don’t push for another nanny state law that honestly cannot be enforced.
YES. I totally agree. Put people in jail for KILLING with a vehicle. I don’t care if it’s deemed an ‘accident’, if you kill someone, you should go to jail. People are incredibly reckless the second they get behind the wheel, but if there were dire consequences for driving with your head up your ass, people would change. People tend to discount fear of death, believing they are invincible, but if there are more ‘realistic’ consequences, like jail time for your actions, I really think people could change.
You can’t really be that dense, can you? Say you are driving down a street, and someone runs a stop sign and you hit and kill them. You should go to jail because you killed them??
Change that scenario a bit. You have a kid in the back seat. They ask for your attention, you glance in your rearview mirror at the same time the car runs the stop sign. You might have been able to stop/avoid if you hadn’t been glancing in your mirror. You should go to jail for that? You were obviously distracted.
Death penalty for anyone texting while driving, then people will stop
Its worse than drunk driving, I can usually tell when someone is on there phone or texting by their driving behavior.
I tell all my friends/family I will not go in the car with you if you talk on your cell while driving.
Went to bachelor party letting my friends know this, on the way home the bachelor called his fiancee while driving to say hi. There was traffic approaching and my buddy had to slam on the brakes being distracted by talking on the phone, immediately looked back at me in the mirror and tofd his now wife, he as to go he is driving
They just passed legislation in Virginia banning texting while driving.
I’m betting they will use that law as a multiplier. No one will get tickets for it except as part of another reason for a ticket, such as causing a wreck or reckless driving.
Instead of passing yet another law that you cannot realistically enforce, why don’t you work on getting them to put teeth into the criminal negligence laws and start using those against people who cause wrecks? Push for real jail time for causing these things rather than a slap on the wrist but don’t push for another nanny state law that honestly cannot be enforced.
YES. I totally agree. Put people in jail for KILLING with a vehicle. I don’t care if it’s deemed an ‘accident’, if you kill someone, you should go to jail. People are incredibly reckless the second they get behind the wheel, but if there were dire consequences for driving with your head up your ass, people would change. People tend to discount fear of death, believing they are invincible, but if there are more ‘realistic’ consequences, like jail time for your actions, I really think people could change.
You’re not thinking this through either.
If you’re doing 50 in a 50 zone and a kid is screwing around in dad’s car in their driveway and takes the parking brake off, the car drifts out in front of you from the driveway and you don’t see it until it’s already too late. The kid in the car dies. How, exactly, should you be held liable in any way?