Legislators Ponder BlackBerry Pileups

WSJdpatton writes to mention that legislators are taking a look at a new driving offense, DWT — Driving While Texting. Sparked by an increase in accidents related to the use of an electronic devices, this is just the latest in a string of "distracted driving" laws that are being entertained. "Some wireless industry supporters argue that statutes barring texting while driving are too specific. What is needed, they say, is not narrowly focused legislation, but a campaign to educate the public about all driver distractions. In Washington, D.C., an industry lobby group called CTIA -- The Wireless Association has begun tracking legislation, including Ms. McDonald's bill, and scratching out a strategy to counter it."

Comments

Re:An idea

[Seumas]

Driving is just fine. Driving would be completely safe if it weren't for the idiots. I see no reason that drunk driving, texting while driving, using your laptop while driving and possibly even using a cell phone without hands-free while driving should all be criminal offenses.

If you can't adhere to the most basic safety standards like paying attention to your driving, then you don't deserve to be on the road. And you don't deserve ten, twenty or fifty offenses before you finally get the right taken away from you. While I might see more leniency on non-alcohol-related offenses so that you get one warning, the drunk driving thing should be a termination of your license forever. Why should we play russian roulette with pedestrians and other people on the road in the hope that you'll somehow get your shit together and not drive drunk again?

And while we're at it, can we stop fucking coddling those god damned elderly people?! I don't fucking give a shit if you fought in World War II and had fifteen children and thirty grandchildren. When you can't tell the difference between the break and gas, it's time we forbid you from driving before you plow through another McDonald's, Starbucks, street fair, shopping mall, school yard or soccer field.

Re:The real problem.

[Xzzy]

One could argue that if you're dumb enough to get caught in the splash damage, you deserved to die too. ;)

But what do I know, I'm typing this from inside an airtight lifesupport bubble that I haven't left in 15 years. In a bunker, 20 stories below sea level.

Re:Why not just have a new "dee dee dee" driving t

[plasmacutter]

so that's what they call disagreeing with slashdot groupthink today.. making an ass of myself.. i kinda like it.. it sounds so evil.

the point stands.. theyre attacking one mildly distracting activity while leaving many many others in tact because they either are guilty of it themselves or they know they'd be bum rushed and lynched if they banned car stereos, gps, those in-dash tvs, and driving your kids around.

kids have to be by far the most distracting objects to put in a car and people have been doing fine driving with them for almost a century, but phones are just evil.. BURN THE WITCH BURN THE WITCH (and go packers too but mostly) BURN THE WITCH!