Is the texting ban the prelude to no talking while driving?
The House of Delegates overwhelmingly approved a ban on text messaging while driving, and the resolution of a few minor differences with the Senate is all that stands in the way of it becoming law. The 133-2 vote stands in marked contrast to the heated debate the assembly has been engaged in for more than a decade over restrictions on talking on your cell phone while driving, and to the failure of texting bans last year. (Three separate bills got killed in committee in the House last year.)
It's a bit of a mystery why something will fail in Annapolis one year and sail through the next; sometimes an issue's time has just come. But I'm not sure that passage of the texting ban indicates any greater willingness to take up an all-out cell phone ban anytime soon. Annapolis has been debating that one since well before most people had cell phones, and opinions seem pretty hardened on the matter.
Comments
For once, a new law that I'm glad to see. Is there a post on SB420 in our future? :)
Posted by: Kyle | April 1, 2009 3:55 PM
I agree with this law. But, how are the cops going to prove that you were texting. Are they going to be allowed to seize your cell phone as evidence or get a court order to have your cell phone bill.
Posted by: Geoff Schwartz | April 1, 2009 4:12 PM
what's the difference between pushing 10 digits to make a phone call while driving and texting?
Posted by: Hypocrites | April 1, 2009 4:52 PM
Talk about a completely unenforceable law. Unless you are literally driving next to a cop while texting there is no way this can be enforced. Most people who text while driving are not holding up their phones so people can see it, they're being held down below the windows. All this law will do is scare a FEW people into not texting behind the wheel anymore. I'd be willing to bet that over 90% of people who text while driving will continue to do so.
Posted by: Steve | April 1, 2009 4:58 PM
Next will be smoking while driving, eating while driving, talking to other passengers while driving, changing the radio while driving, scratching your arm while driving, and driving while sleepy.
Posted by: Brent | April 1, 2009 5:18 PM
both bans would be absurd . this is NOT 1950 anymore. Business dudes NEED at least to talk on the cell in the car, as do doc dudes like me. OTW family time would be robbed (which we all have precious little of). End of discussion.
Posted by: Gregory Pokrywka MD | April 1, 2009 5:48 PM
I don't see how this law can really be enforced, but it IS a good idea...
Posted by: Jake | April 1, 2009 6:07 PM
AS a motorcycle enthusiast, ALL phone use should be banned while driving.
I cannot swerve to avoid a celltalker on my bike as safely as I can in my car.
Do a test. Whenever you see a car ease over into your lane, or quickly cross over more than one lane at a time, 9 times out of ten, they are on the phone.
Posted by: Fed Up | April 1, 2009 6:31 PM
End of discussion? Sorry, Doc Dude Pokrywka, you're God only at your practice (and in your own mind). On this issue, you are as uninformed as Brent, who unintentionally reveals the silliness of his own argument. (Actually, Brent, you shouldn't drive while you're sleepy.)
Study after study has shown that driving while talking on a cell is equivalent to driving after two or three alcoholic drinks. It's qualitatively different from talking to someone in the car, who would know to shut up if conditions required the driver's attention; who might even tell the driver to pay more attention to the road.
Fed Up is right on the money. Do his test and you'll see he's right.
The reason MD legislators won't make it illegal is because they all do it! But they're too old to be into texting, so that's fair game.
Posted by: ballmerboy | April 1, 2009 7:17 PM
Due to comment length restrictions, please visit my blog at http://truckied.wordpress.com and read the post "Cell phones and driving".
Posted by: Truckie-D | April 3, 2009 11:42 AM