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Texting While Driving: Unsafe at any Speed?

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Discussion Started on Sep 30 2009 at 02:05:57 pm
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Texting While Driving: Unsafe at any Speed?

Leaders and transportation experts are gathered in Washington this week to discuss what Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called a "menace to society": distracted drivers.

"Distracted driving is an epidemic and it seems to be getting worse every year," LaHood told the 300 participants of the government's Distracted Driving Summit.

Here are some terrifying statistics:
  • Using a cellphone or reaching for a mobile device increases the risk of collision six times
  • A 2008 survey by Nationwide Insurance said 39 percent of drivers ages 18-30 sent text messages while driving, compared with just 4 percent of drivers over the age of 45.
  • In 2008, distracted drivers took 6,000 lives and caused half a million injuries.
  • Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008.
  • A report by Car and Driver magazine found that texting and driving is more dangerous than drunken driving.
Local governments are stepping up efforts to combat this growing problem. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have adopted laws banning texting while driving. At least a half-dozen states require the use of hands-free devices. And there’s a push at the federal level to pass legislation that withholds federal highway money from states without a ban on texting.

LaHood said the Obama Administration is drawing upon the examples of combating drunken driving and seat-belt education.

"We need a combination of strong laws, tough enforcement and ongoing public education to make a difference," he said.

In England, officials produced a graphic and disturbing PSA aimed at teens to show the deadly consequences of texting and driving.





We want to know what you think: should there be stricter cell-phone laws for motorists? What's the best way to stop distracted driving? What scary things have you seen on the road? Do YOU text and drive?

Weigh in now!
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    • Soleil
      Cat
    • Last Online: Oct 10 2009
    Discussion Started on Oct 01 2009 at 05:10:56 pm
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    I think there needs to be laws, some people just don't want to use common sense,they need enforcement. Like what finally happened to enforce seat belts.

     I don't own a cell phone because I am not required by my lifestyle to be on call 24/7. I find their use in public very offencive. I've actually had to say to a few people "Do you think you could talk any louder?" It's noise pollution to me, just like second hand smoke, take it outside please.

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    Discussion Started on Oct 01 2009 at 08:11:27 pm
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    The worst offense I've seen is the useless death of four teens in past 2 months - all as a result of texting while driving.  Rather than have this butchery continue I'd prefer a law banning ALL use of cell phones or other devices in a moving auto by ANY person riding in that auto.  All conversations, twitters, tweets, toots, words, honking, ad nauseum should be done out of the flow of traffic.
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    Discussion Started on Oct 03 2009 at 10:00:53 am
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    I wrote an article in support of a federal ban on cell phone use while driving for Associated Content. You can read at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2233187/it_is_time_for_a_federal_ban_on_cell.html?cat=27
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    Discussion Started on Oct 03 2009 at 11:19:46 am
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    Mr. Long's words are powerful and correct.  Congratulations, David.  We got along before advent of cell phones?  I see nothing that commends them other than another form of slavery to some sort of mechanical device.  We humans are good at enslaving ourselves, aren't we?  If it's new - gotta have one.  We do not NEED them.  Common sense are two lost words - ruined our vocabulary.
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    • Ina 29 juli 2011.jpg
      Ina
    • Last Online: Oct 19 2011
    Discussion Started on Oct 08 2009 at 07:15:16 am
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    Where I live, making a phone call in the car by the driver is forbidden, unless you use a handlfree set.  Texting while driving, that sounds rediculous to me. You need to see what the traffic is about?
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    Discussion Started on Dec 21 2009 at 08:03:52 pm
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    Well, we probably don't need another Federal ban on anything. This should be left up to the people in the states they live to get restrictions passed on using any device while driving that impairs the operators ability to control the automobile. I ride a bicycle a lot and what worries me is someone coming up behind me and running me over because they are too busy yakking or texting then driving. As I understand it, you are impaired more while using a cell phone than you are driving drunk in some cases. I hardly like to even listen to music while driving. Any distraction to keep me from being able to dodge all the idiot drivers out there I steer clear from. I don't even like conversations in the car when there are more than myself riding in it. 
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    Discussion Started on Dec 21 2009 at 10:23:11 pm
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    State legislatures are beginning to move on this subject.  As adults we have an obligation to be good citizens and see to it those in our care live responsibly - teaching young drivers common sense goes a long way.  All the common sense in the world disappears due to peer pressure sometimes - let's just make it illegal to use in moving vehicle in every state.  My late husband was a firefighter.  More than once his crew was threatened by an inattentive, distracted driver while they were on emergency runs.  In town a radio, CD player, etc. can be deadly.  No one should ever wear headphones for any reason.  The sound of an emergency siren in rendered useless
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    Discussion Started on Dec 22 2009 at 12:08:03 am
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    The closest call I have ever had while riding my bicycle was out in the country near a curve where some woman came around all the way in the wrong lane yakking to her passenger totally oblivious to the fact that she was almost in a head on collision with a guy on a bicycle. If I could have slapped her upside the head right then, I would have...people need to use common sense. The problem is that common sense only exists in about 3% of the population any more. 
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    Discussion Started on Dec 26 2009 at 08:09:47 pm
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    Never do text. My car is set up with "SYNC" which allows me to phone by pushing a button on the steering wheel & speaking a command. Recommend this for anybody. Hands free!
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