Hagan: Ban texting while driving

[ccharles000]

U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan helped introduce a bill today that would prohibit texting while driving – though she admitted to reporters that she’s done it before.

“I bet everyone here has texted, and we all realize it’s dangerous,” Hagan said during a news conference on the bill, reports Barb Barrett.

The bill would require states to enact bans on texting while driving or risk losing federal funds.

It comes after research released by Virginia Tech University this week saying that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to get into a wreck. Other sponsors include Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/hagan_ban_texting_while_driving

[TeamJordan23]

1. We have this law in CA. I think its a good law, but not sure how many people follow it. nm

[napi21]

2. Great idea! I happen to think there should also be a restriction

mandating handsfree cell phone use while driving. Dialing #'s is too much of a distraction!

[Gormy Cuss]

4. The problem is that hands-free use is still pretty distracting according to studies measuring that.

IIRC, the findings are that cell phone conversations are more distracting even than conversations with passengers in the car because passengers may see the same visual cues as the driver and can take nonverbal cues from the driver that the conversation must be paused. Someone on the other end of a phone can't and will continue to talk as if the driver has no distractions. The driver in turn may try to keep up his/her end of the conversation rather than focusing on the road.

[TrogL]

5. It also prevents the driver from doing the internal "self-talk" necessary for driving

...because he's got competing "voices in his head".

[azmouse]

3. I'm all for bills like this.

The city of Phoenix has made this a law. Several people here have been killed by texting drivers losing control of their car and crossing lanes.

There is absolutely no need to text while driving. None.