Ron Schenone

U.S. Bans Texting By Truckers & Bus Drivers – What About Banning ALL Drivers?

Posted by on Jan 26, 2010 | 15 Comments

The U.S. has finally banned texting for truckers and bus drivers. But what about banning ALL drivers? In one recent article it stated that over 200,000 accidents happen while people are texting. Why are we as a nation so reluctant to ban texting for everyone while operating a car?

One article states that:

Now, bus drivers and truck drivers who are caught texting will face fines up to $2,750. It remains to be seen whether such measures will become standard for all U.S. drivers.

If a trucker or bus driver causes an accident while illegally texting they could face jail time.

We are a nation of cowards. We don’t have the guts to ban texting for all drivers and require hands free cell phone calls.

Source

  • http://justenrobertson.com Justen

    Truck & Bus drivers fall under interstate commerce clause, others do not necessarily, so the federal government does not have the authority to regulate them. Has nothing to do with cowardice.

  • CHPPIO

    Texting has been illegal for all drivers in California for over a year now. The idiots still do it, of course…

  • Cliffystones

    Could it be because some of the people who write the laws are some of the ones who feel the need to text and drive?

  • M78

    Texting truck (and bus) drivers can kill you really dead, but texting car drivers are more likely to only turn you into a gasping, simpering vegetable – still alive, but just barely, and impoverished into the bargain.

  • Allan Thompson

    So… on one side of a state line you can text while driving and on the other you can’t? How stupid is that – never mind the politics – lets have some common sense here!

  • Dave

    Perhaps the Federal Government doesn’t have the power to regulate all drivers, but they do have the power to control Federal highway funds. Enact legislation to cut off Federal highway funding to states that do not ban all drivers from texting
    and watch the screams. Since most highway monies come from Uncle Sam, there might be some effect.

  • Buffet

    As usual, we’re in complete agreement.

  • Charlie

    Here in Ontario the law goes into effect shortly. There has been a period of grace where one would receive a warning but now the curtain is coming down, right accross the board and about time. Now what are we going to do about those who do their make-up while driving?

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Thanks to all who commented.

    The Feds can demand that ALL states pass laws to stop texting and driving for ALL drivers. Highway funds can be with held if they don’t comply. This was done when pressure was put on states to comply with the 55 m.p.h. fiasco during one of the previous energy crises.

    Again, thanks for all of the comments.

  • EEJ

    Except that unnecessary laws are not the answer. Most states already ban what is called “distracted driving” which covers much more than just texting, such as eating, applying make-up, or any other action that would prevent you from driving safely.

    Why don’t we just concentrate on enforcing the laws we already have, rather than trying to make new ones?

  • NoteTaker

    Seeing as I’ve already spoken to this issue in my local newspaper, I’ll simply do “copy ‘n paste” of that.

    “Liberty took a hit as well, what with the new…rule not allowing for text messaging while driving. But feel free to smoke, drink, eat, tune your radio, play with your GPS, talk on the cell phone, hollar at the kids in the back seat, put on makeup, have one or more DVD players at full tilt, peruse the newspaper or your mail, gawk at stalled cars or roadside accidents, read passing billboards…and EVEN…display road rage…but just DO NOT text while you’re driving because it’s dangerous!”

    Bottom line is that laws to ban “texting while driving” are inane. If you don’t know why that’s true, I suggest you take some time to seriously review my list of other distractions for which no legislation exists to make illegal. Besides, such laws simply allow lawmakers (a term I use very loosely) to feel like they’re doing something constructive as opposed to destructive.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/tracker1/ tracker1

    The feds can demand all they want, the fact is it is the state’s position to legislate such rules. There are certain agreements between states to share information as well as enforce regulatory statutes that falls outside of the federal government. The problem is too many people are in favor of a bigger federal government.

    Ron is correct in that the federal government can entice this action in coordination with certain funding. The issue at hand is a lot of that funding shouldn’t be federalized in the first place.

  • Gary Bing

    If the Feds had anything to do with it than gay marriage wouldn’t be an issue the states go round and round with either.. The real travesty is that the state of California said you can have a monitor in your front seat not just dedicated to view traffic from the rear or GPS map. You can play DVDs and even watch television. I’m taking public transit and having others drive me. That’s the last draw for me.I just saw yet another driver who for whatever reason found it necessary to hold his cell phone out at night and use the street light to view his keypad..Stick a fork in me I’m done. When the DMV sends me my renewal notice I’m giving my nephew the car and the notice. Arnold said he had to go back on his campaign promise (that got him elected> Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.) that the big increases are coming back because California is broke. Well gee what a price to pay for people to see “Terminator” by the govenator right in your front seat of your car whether your moving or not. Really moves me to a movement right in the toilet.

  • KG

    @tracker1: “The feds can demand all they want, the fact is it is the state’s position to legislate such rules.”

    While it is required that the States administer and test for the CDLs (Commercial Drivers Licenses), they are, in fact, a Federal drivers license. No matter in which state one takes his or her test, the tests are exactly the same, determined, issued, and regulated by the Federal DOT.

    In the beginning this was implemented primarily because of the propensity of truck drivers to get multiple drivers licenses from several states. Get too many tickets against one drivers license and lose it, then all you had to do is switch to another drivers license from another state and drive away.

    Of course now the Commercial Drivers License is under Federal purview and they are able to implement any requirement they deem fit. Of course the non-commercial drivers licenses are still issued under State laws, and as such fall under the rules of the issuing state.

    @NoteTaker: “”Liberty took a hit as well, what with the new…rule not allowing for text messaging while driving. But feel free to smoke, drink, eat, tune your radio,(…etc.)”

    While many of the issues you mention are indeed a concern, it is simply not possible for one to put ones hands on the steering wheel and concentrate fully and completely on the task of driving. Almost as dangerous as distracted driving is “road hypnosis,” becoming a worse danger the longer the trip.

    There are only two solutions to this dilemma; either make frequent stops and have two or more drivers to switch off (which you know as well as I is not always possible) or have vehicles which are driven by computer control (which has not as yet been implemented).

    The only solution is to balance distraction with safe driving, which of course is an imperfect solution left to the imperfect judgement of the individual driver. Some forms of distraction MUST be regulated; whether by the Federal DOT or the individual state. Most people can’t make the distinction between (relatively) safe distractions and (definitely) unsafe ones.

    Of course, this is an imperfect solution in itself. Some people are able to multi-task and some aren’t. And some can’t even perform the single task of driving, and shouldn’t be allowed to drive at all. But that’s just me.

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