Pull over ‘texting zones’ to be set up on highways

[hrmjustin]

ALBANY – State highways including the Thruway, and several interstates, will have “texting zones” for motorists.

Texting while driving is illegal so the state launched new pull over areas so drivers can do their texting and not put themselves and other motorists in jeopardy.

Existing Park-n-Ride facilities, rest stops, and parking areas along the Thruway and Highways, where you have always been able to stop the car and do what you want with your ‘smart’ phone, will dual-function as Texting Zones, and signage will be placed along the highway to inform drivers where the Zones are located. A total of 298 signs will be located along major highways across the state, notifying motorists to 91 Texting Zone locations.

Throughout the state, there was a 365% increase in tickets issued in summer 2013 compared to summer 2012 for distracted driving, a result of an extensive enforcement crackdown by the State Police. This summer, State Police issued 21,580 tickets, surpassing last summer's total of 5,208 tickets.

http://www.empirestatenews.net/News2013/20130924-2.htm

[darkangel218]

1. Texting zones??

Oh lord...

[hrmjustin]

2. Well it should be interesting. It is now illegal to text and drive in NYS.

[darkangel218]

3. So will be in FL, from Oct 1st.

I just find it hilarious that they are actually considering creating special zones where people can pull over and text. What could be so important that can't wait until you get to your destination??
The whole thing is silly.

[hrmjustin]

4. It will be interesting to see how they pull it off. I am sure they will get money from tickets.

[darkangel218]

5. I suspect there will be traffic jams and accidents from so many trying to pull into those zones.

When I'm on the highway I won't even touch or look on my phone. Too freaking dangerous as is.

[hrmjustin]

6. I don't drive so it won't matter to me but I don't walk and text because I will walk into something.

[darkangel218]

7. Lmao!! i dont walk and text either :)

I tried doing it and I couldn't keep a straight line

[hrmjustin]

8. I have poor vision so I am not allowed to drive.

[darkangel218]

9. You dont really need to drive in NY.

None of the people I know who live there own a car.

[hrmjustin]

10. In most parts of NYC that is true but not all.

[frylock]

13. What could be so important that can't wait until you get to your destination??

A change of destination, perhaps?

[darkangel218]

14. There are plenty of rest areas on highways.

Wait until you get to one.

[djg21]

15. They used to be called "rest areas."

But they've all been closed down as a cost-saving measure.

[Laffy Kat]

11. Does anyone see irony here?

A state sees a potential hazard and uses its resources via infrastructure to at least attempt to negate possible tragedies. Gun control ???? OK, I realize NY is a poor example, but Fla-la-la?

[hrmjustin]

12. I see your point.

[Rhiannon12866]

16. K&R! Sounds like a really good idea to me!

September 23, 2013-New Baltimore- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announces new signage on NYS Thruway that re-enforce no texting while driving. (Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo)

[hrmjustin]

17. I tend to agree. It is a major issue in this state.

[Rhiannon12866]

19. It's a major issue everywhere and has caused some tragic accidents

I can't talk on my phone and drive at the same time, let alone text...

[hrmjustin]

20. I can not walk and text.

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I don't think I could, either, have enough trouble with it when I'm sitting still, LOL.

[hrmjustin]

24. I hate my cell phone anyway.

So I try not to use it that often.

[Rhiannon12866]

27. I just try and remember to take mine with me, have only had one for a little over a year.

It was suggested that I "trade up," but I'm just happy that I've learned how to use the one I have...

[hrmjustin]

28. I wish I could just throw mine away.

[Rhiannon12866]

32. Well, you don't have to answer it, LOL.

If I hear mine go off while I'm driving, I just ignore it until I get where I'm going. I can't manage it while I'm driving. My mother had one that was installed in her car, very handy, since it was hands free, had a little microphone on the driver's side. And my Dad had one in his car back in the '80s, was just like a regular phone. I tried calling my friend at work once when I was on my way there, but then I hit traffic and had to drop the receiver...

[hrmjustin]

34. Sometimes I don't answer it.

Especially when I don't know the number.

[hrmjustin]

18. Btw how are your allergies up there?

[Rhiannon12866]

21. It's still pretty bad. This summer has just been the worst!

Unless I take something, people ask me if I'm crying, since my right eye constantly runs down my face. And my friend has worse allergies than I do, has trouble leaving the house since the air has felt positively thick.

[hrmjustin]

22. I know I am dying here and my asthma makes it worse.

The Claritin is helping. If you look in my thread some people had some good remedies. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1068&pid=3591

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Thanks!

I have tried Claritin and Zyrtec (recommended by my doctor), but the one that's worked best for me is Advil Allergy and Congestion - the one in the green box, not the yellow one. I didn't have any for a few days and my eye started running again. Plus, I have an inhaler.

[hrmjustin]

26. I used my Asthma machine this morning when I woke up. It helped.

My inhaler never leaves my side.

[Rhiannon12866]

29. You mean a nebulizer? I have one of those, too.

They've nebulized me at my doctor's office and once in the ER, so it was suggested I buy one and I'm glad I did. I don't use it all that often, but if I need it, I'm not in any shape to drive anywhere. I did drive myself to the ER that time and they chastised me.

[hrmjustin]

30. Thank God for Nebulizers!

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I totally agree, has saved me more than once.

It's strange, since I had asthma when I was little, then it seemed like I outgrew it, but now i's back...

[hrmjustin]

33. I hate having to go to the hospital for Asthma.

[Rhiannon12866]

45. That's why it's so important to have a nebulizer.

I feel so much better now that I have one, especially since I no longer have health insurance.

[hrmjustin]

48. The Claritin is working well again today so hopefully I won't need the nebulizer.

[hrmjustin]

35. How do you feel today?

[Rhiannon12866]

36. It's a whole lot warmer today, but it's not too bad.

Yourself?

[hrmjustin]

37. I took a Claritin and I have been fine all day.

I am trying to figure out these new rules skinner announced today.

[Rhiannon12866]

38. And I just took an Advil Congestion, LOL.

What did the pioneers do? And I have to read Skinner's post over agaon, myself. I like most of it, but I certainly hope he hasn't banned Otto!

[hrmjustin]

39. No Otto appears to be there but limited. Still to be determined.

We are waiting on a DTG to come to test it.

[Rhiannon12866]

40. Let me know how that turns out.

I was on MIRT when Otto's role was expanded and everybody loved it and him, made things so much easier.

[hrmjustin]

42. It is interesting watching the reactions of people to this new change.

BTW we now have to manually ban now in MIRT. I have to get used to it with the real new ones.

[Rhiannon12866]

43. A lot of people are glad they're cracking down on abusive jury comments

That's the one thing I got out of Meta, learned that you can alert on them, which I have when they're worse than the alerted post.

And auto nuke was implemented during my two terms on MIRT, for which we were so grateful, made things so much easier. *sigh*

[hrmjustin]

46. Well I hope thingsa work out well. I do miss Meta at times.

[hrmjustin]

41. Otto took out someone so it is still around.

[Rhiannon12866]

44. Thanks! I'm awfully pleased to know that!

Otto was the most popular member of MIRT when I was there. Once, we argued who loved him more...

[hrmjustin]

47. Yeah I was glad to see that he is still there to take care of our friend.