Poll: Should texting or reading texts while driving be illegal? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Yes		86%	2209
No		11%	286
Not sure		2%	55
Total	2550

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Just about the only way anyone would take this kind of law seriously is if the consiquences were rather severe. Perhaps when someone is spotted texting while driving they are pulled over and the cell is confiscated (no fine, no ticket) -- they do not get it back; after replacing multiple cellphones folks might be a little shy about breaking that law and losing another cellphone.

I seriously doubt that anything like that could be done legally.

phoggyjay 3 years ago

I agree. It would mean more to take away their phone.

angel4dennis 3 years ago

I don't think texting while driving is a good idea. Neither do I think that police officers that are driving in county owned vehicles should be allowed to talk on their cell phones. I assume that every cop car has a department issued radio that they are to be using. What is good for the goose is all I am saying. What is the policy on that Douglas County? I saw four of your police officers in YOUR vehicles on their cell phones while driving just tonight. Good thing I only come into Lawrence for a visit. That makes me nervous and if a cop causes a wreck, who writes them up a ticket for no seat belt and talking on the phone or texting?

DillonBarnes 3 years ago

Police may use their cell phone to contact other officers or dispatchers for multiple reasons. They may also use them to contact citizens about incidents or problems. Radios are a fast and efficient way to communicate with dispatch and relay small bits of information, but they aren't good for long conversations. Communication on the radio is designed to be short and easy, both to reduce the chance of someone hearing wrong and to not tie up the frequency if there is an emergency.

Should police have to pull over for non-emergency phone calls? That's debatable, but they do use phones for a reason.

slowplay 3 years ago

I'm not sure about Lawrence, but the last city I lived in the police had voice activated cellphone systems built in to their on-board communications (computer, radio). Many state police departments use a satellite phone service similar to OnStar.

cait48 3 years ago

There's a simple solution for this. Bluetooth. It's been around awhile y'know.

kantubek 3 years ago

This is way too unspecific with the amount of gizmos on modern [and future] cellular phones.

Buckle/Hang/Shut up and drive.

sourpuss 3 years ago

Obviously, enforcement of such a law is difficult if not impossible, but this could provide an extra charge (such as suspension of a license) in the event of an accident, the threat of which would probably deter a lot of people, though not all.

AreUNorml 3 years ago

laws deter a small percentage of the population from committing the crime, but the bulk of people believe they can get away with it. lets look at DUI.. big penalties, yet thousands die every year because of it.

AreUNorml 3 years ago

no more laws please. make due with the ones we have. texting while driving is nothing more than inattentive driving. simple as that.

Ron Holzwarth 3 years ago

Inattentive driving is a good thing to be ticketed for, is my experience. Because it is not reported as a driving violation, it won't raise your insurance rates.

Might be a good idea though, if inattentive driving was actually considered a serious offence.

local_support 3 years ago

Last November I hit a guardrail at approximately 70 mph while texting. I was just barely able to keep control of my vehicle. It happened in the span of less than 2 seconds. It was the most terrifying brush with death I have ever had. And it was 100% my fault.

I have not sent a text while driving since. I'm extremely lucky I did not end up dead or causing a serious accident. I am posting this because before this happened I never even gave texting while driving a second thought.

Seriously I might not be here today if that guardrail hadn't been on a straight-away. Just thinking about it all again gives me the chills. Please, DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE. Don't be an idiot like I was.

seriouscat 3 years ago

thanks for changing your habit and encouraging others to be more safe out there local! I swear the next car I get is going to have as many airbags as I can get!

Ron Holzwarth 3 years ago

Really seriouscat, there's nothing like your personal safe drving, seat belts, tonnage, air bags, and a 5 star crash rating in your vehicle - all on your side!

mr_right_wing 3 years ago

I applaud your courage to come forward like that and take responsibility, considering the amount of ridicule you are exposing yourself to on this particular forum.

RoeDapple 3 years ago

If you don't like the way I drive then stay off the sidewalk . . . .

merrill in 3,...2,...

seriouscat 3 years ago

Texting while driving should be treated the same as driving drunk, both by law enforcement and friends and family. If someone that I know drove drunk on a regular basis I would be sure to tell them that I hope they get arrested and punished before they hurt themselves or someone else.

Texting while driving has been proven to be as dangerous. Would you accept a ride from someone who is drunk? Would you try to stop a loved one who has been drinking from driving while impaired?

30,000 people a year dead from auto accidents, 1,000,000 injured....and these are stats from previous years before everyone started texting each other every 5 seconds. Pay attention out there folks!

Ron Holzwarth 3 years ago

I was once stuck with a driver that was texting at 60 mph on the Kellogg flyover - between two other cars! He was swerving all over his lane, and there was nothing I could do but hope the crash was survivable.

Later, he said, "Oh, I only text when I'm driving if it's three letters." Duh.

And by the way, your 30,000 dead a year statistic is just a bit low.

Kris_H 3 years ago

Friends don't let friends text while driving (or encourage them to by texting them!)

Thanks for your definitely impressive input, local_support. Keep telling it like it is! If it's that important to answer, pull the frick over.

I know whereof I speak too. I backed out of my driveway and into a trash truck while just talking on the cellphone. Didn't do a thing to the truck, not a mark on it, but broke my taillight. I was lucky it wasn't a lot worse. For a while I abstained from talking on the phone while driving, but have somewhat relapsed on that.

But I could never, ever text while driving! Sheesh, that's like reading a book and typing a letter, how can you drive safely and do that? Well, of course, you can't. NOBODY CAN.

Kris_H 3 years ago

Ooops, I didn't know LJW wouldn't let me write something in all caps. Please read those last two words in all caps. Nobody Can.

independant1 3 years ago

r u redi 4 dis

independant1 3 years ago

I voted no because I have stock in OnStar

angel4dennis 3 years ago

Sierraclub, I chose to move out of Lawrence a few years ago. I do not live in a cave but am amazed at just how strange things seem to be getting in that county. My point is that I do not believe it right to pass a law against cell phone usage while driving if the state employees do not adhere to the same laws. People that are driving should only be paying attention to the road and the other idots around them putting on their makeup, reading, or sending text messages!

dogsandcats 3 years ago

I text and drive all the time. Never had even a close call. It's about common sense. Don't take your eyes completely off the road to stare at your cellular device. Learn the buttons so you can text without looking. It's not diffucult.

It's idiots who don't know how to drive who should be banned.

dogsandcats 3 years ago

I meant "difficult"

DillonBarnes 3 years ago

I kind of have to agree with your point. It's about knowing your ability and limitations, and not exceeding them. Too many people out there think they are a much better driver than they really are.

thebigspoon 3 years ago

OK, try this: Drive down K10 at 70 mph, text and have your passenger yell at a random time "Watch out!". Now figure out how long it took you to look up, scan the road, find the danger around you, and take appropriate action. Now do it while limiting yourself to only four seconds of looking at your cell. It doesn't change a thing. Your precious "right" to pay no attention to your driving or that of others goes down the drain the second you or others you contact are dead. You can not defend this stupid action with anything but pre-teen lack of regard for the rest of humanity. Don't even try it.

bluefirebird 3 years ago

I voted yes but i would still do it. I am an amazing driver.

citizen0123 3 years ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

tellitlikeitis 3 years ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

tellitlikeitis 3 years ago

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.

thebigspoon 3 years ago

You are an amazing driver? Say that after you cause or are involved in a wreck, no matter how trivial, while texting or the other driver is texting. Get real.

windjammer 3 years ago

I would like to see anyone caught texting while driveing get thirty days in jail and twelve hours a day hard labor. And after they are realeased from jail be put on probation for two years. If they violate any part of the probation they would be locked up for a solid year and the car being driven crushed at Bo's salvage yard.

independant1 3 years ago

What else is there to do between Salina and Hays?

independant1 3 years ago

It's a good idea to ban it, let's make a law.

Sigma 3 years ago

Why must we have a LAW for every tiny thing? How about common sense and some personal responsibility, but enough with a law to say what you can and can't do in every little aspect of your day.

radiohawk 3 years ago

Because there's nothing "common" about common sense. It seems to be an increasingly rare commodity. If you're piloting a ton of steel at 30+ mph, your undivided attention is mandatory. Put down the friggin' phone. Whatever it is can wait.

whats_going_on 3 years ago

I'd like to know what the differences are between wrecks caused by hands free cells (bluetooth, etc) and handheld devices. Personally I've used both while driving, and it seems a bit harder to concentrate when talking without the cellphone in my hand. Not sure why. I can't use my cell while i'm driving now because I have a manual, but I dont' even think I'd want to install the bluetooth capability, seems just as dangerous.

independant1 3 years ago

Any insurance actuaral experts hanging around?

We could ask an economist.

An economist is a man that can tell you anything. His guess is liable to be as good as anybody else’s, too. (Will Rogers)

patchley 3 years ago

I do research and publish in this area. Here are the facts, as we know them right now:

Drink driving: 400% increase in crash risk (numerous studies) Hand's free cellular: 500% increase in risk (numerous studies) Texting: 2300% increase in risk (Virg. Tech Trans Inst. in car study)

And guess what Lawrence: In work we just finished, we find that literally 95% of KU students surveyed text and drive. And 75% of those do it two-handed.

Sorry dogsandcats: You can't do it safely even if you can text one handed. You read your replies, right? You eyes are off the road an average of 4 seconds every time you do.

independant1 3 years ago

We're doomed

independant1 3 years ago

anybody run the numbers for eating fast food while operating 27-200 HP internal combustion gasoline powered engine?

kansasmutt 3 years ago

All i can say is this.. You hit me or my wife while your driving on a cell phone and I will own everything you have and I will take every penny you earn the rest of your life.You will have nothing EVER. If you kill my wife with your car while your on a phone, you wont see your next birthday. That is how i feel about texting while driving. If you text and drive, you made your own bed.I think talking on a phone while driving should cary a huge fine and after 2 times you lose your DL.

happy_go_lucky 3 years ago

threats, nice.

windjammer 3 years ago

And go to jail for thirty days and have your car crushed at Bo's salvage.

Aiko 3 years ago

Damn.... SLow your roll KM.....

MacHeath 3 years ago

We get in such a bother over drunk drivers. I don't see anything wrong with treating cell phone use while driving in kind. How about making abusers install a device in their car, at their cost, that blocks cell phones?

madameX 3 years ago

You mean scrambles the signal so they can't make or receive calls or texts? I think that's actually good idea...

independant1 3 years ago

Texting While Driving If convicted the punishment shall be what?

Mutliple Choice, no incorrect answers

First offence A. Amputation of thumb B. $50-$100 and/or up to 1 day in county jail C. Mandatory enrollment in pda/cell phone annon D. All of the above E. None of the above F. A & C G. B & C

Another reason for police to stop someone and ask for their papers.

Stay in your car, Were you texting? let me see your license, registration and proof of insurance.

If negative reinforcement was allowed, we could tase texters. That'd cut it way down pdq.

keitherman 3 years ago

Having been rear ended and side swiped 5 times by inattentive drivers, I can tell you that texting while driving is just one of many distractions that cause accidents. One was caused by a 16 year old on a cell phone, another was playing with the car radio, one was yelling at her kids in the back seat, and another was staring at a young lady holding a sign for a $5 pizza. I live with pain these accidents caused every day by these type of drivers, but you cannot pass a specific law against all these things. Although I voted yes, the police can only go so far in enforcing the current statutes against inattentive driving.

dogsandcats 3 years ago

See, so in addition to making cell phones in cars illegal, we should raise the age of getting a DL, make radios in cars illegal, make transporting children in cars illegal, make attractive women wear dumpy black frocks, and make roadside signage illegal.

If we just make everything illegal, then nothing bad will ever happen.

George_Braziller 3 years ago

About ten years ago I was driving on 1-80 and passed a guy who was actually reading a book while he was driving 70 mph. The cruise control was set, he had it right foot propped up on the dashboard, and had the book between his two hands on the steering wheel.

As I passed him I had to do a double-take because I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

milehighhawk 3 years ago

It should be illegal except for when I do it.

Kris_H 3 years ago

I think there are a lot of people posting here who probably do text while driving.

I hope none of you ever suffer the consequences of your horrible decisions, whether that's harm to you and your property or harm to someone else and their property. But you probably will; the odds are very much in favor of that happening. That's why we need laws to protect us from the likes of you.

Whatever is in that precious text message, it's just not worth it! When you're in the car, it's driving time, not playtime. Grow the frick up.

grammaddy 3 years ago

let's put some kind of micro-chip in the cars. If a phone is answered while the car is moving, the engine shuts off. My car is a "no phone zone" after watching Oprah's show about this.Trying to teach the grandkids early.

vertigo 3 years ago

And what of passengers in the car? Should the car shut off (thus losing power steering) if a passenger in the car answers a phone?

Truthspeaker 3 years ago

It took you watching Oprah to decide this?

Do you form any other thoughts without Oprah?

Truthspeaker 3 years ago

It took you watching Oprah to decide this?

Do you form any other thoughts without Oprah?

Alexander Neighbors 3 years ago

OMG they Actually have to ask if this should be illegal...........YES and the Cell phone companies should disable cell service if your moving faster than 30 mph. Just incase you have those people that feel the rules dont apply to them

crissamber 3 years ago

How are they going to inforce that law? I feel cell phones should be disabled when in a movie vehicle as was_freashpowder2 had said, disable them when your moving faster than 30 mph. That seems like a good thing, but is it ever going to happen?

Kris_H 3 years ago

Wait, even if that "disable the phone if moving more than x mph" would work, it wouldn't be right. What if you're using your phone on a city bus? In a taxi? As a passenger in the back seat of someone else's car?

They will enforce it the same way they enforce the seat belt laws now, by observing the infraction. I wish they could enforce it by jerking the chump out of the car and applying a whomp upside the head, but that would be a bit out of bounds, I guess.

whats_going_on 3 years ago

How about people who are trying to juggle a big mac, fries, and 44 oz soda while driving? Or those who can't see over the steering wheel?

Slyder 3 years ago

Isn't it obvious....Those regulating the laws on texting while driving, are the ones who text on a regular basis themselves.....They set the rules as they want......and they want to text. Their the same ones who got K2 off the street in less than a month......