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

No new laws needed

[spun]

This morning I was stuck behind a vapid looking blond in a Mercedes. She was driving erratically, speeding up and slowing down, veering outside her lane, and cutting people off. Then I noticed that she had her rear-view mirror tilted so she could see herself, and she appeared to be doing her hair and makeup while driving.

That is unsafe driving. Unsafe driving is currently against the law, and it covers more than just cell phones and crackberries. It is no more enforced than any new law against one specific type of unsafe driving would be. Why don't we just enforce the laws we have instead of making new ones that will also only be conditionally enforced?

Bad idea

[spun]

We need stupid people. Stupid people do what they are told to do by their society. Most of the time, this is what has worked for their ancestors and will still work for them. This provides a surplus upon which all innovation and excellence is based. Without stupid people, you'd have everyone innovating all the time and not doing what works. The problem with innovation is that, much of the time, it fails.

Einstein, alone in the jungle without a bunch of "stupid" people around to take up the slack and focus on the environment, would likely be too distracted thinking abstract thoughts to notice the lion creeping up on him. It takes all kinds to make our world work. Remember that the next time you want to off a group of people that evolution has, so far, kept around in the gene pool in relatively large numbers.