Shd u txt n drive?
Joy Kicinski
Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: Opinion
According to Pennsylvania Libertarian Party Chairman Robertson of Clarion County, "Distracted driving is an issue, but that doesn't mean there needs to be a law regulating every possible distraction."
Mike Pintek of KDKA-AM radio criticized the idea of a drivers' cell phone ban on his evening talk show. "If we ban cell phones to reduce driver distractions," said Pintek, "what's next - banning billboards, or street signs, or CD players, or drinking coffee, or eating a sandwich, or yelling at your kids?"
Young residents of Pennsylvania agree with Chairman Robertson and Mr. Pintek. When a group of ten college students from the Philadelphia area were asked if they owned a cell phone and used it regularly, all of them said they used it for calling and texting. Eight out of ten respondents used their cell phones at least once while driving, and half regularly use their phone while driving. "I drive and talk and text on my phone all the time while driving," according to Kait*, "and I do not feel it's a danger practice."
Another student, Liz*, feels "it is completely unnecessary to ban phones while driving. A responsible person knows when to and when not to use their phones. In a lot of traffic, you can bet I won't use my phone." Other students agree.
But, when asked if they have broken any road rules while driving, Kait* spoke up. "I was driving on a small, dark street after dropping my friend off, and I received a text message. I flipped open my phone, replied to the message, and the next thing I knew, I was being pulled over by a police car. I received a ticket for blowing a stop sign." She explained that even with getting caught and receiving a monetary punishment, she still texts while driving. Mostly, the other students may have violated a traffic law; however, none were caught.
When the students were asked if they caused any collisions, nine said no. One girl, Karen*, said that although she was responsible for the accident, she was not charged for it. "I was driving on the [Roosevelt] Boulevard, and I was writing a quick reply to a text message. When I looked up, the car in front of me slowed down." Karen explained that she swerved out of her lane and cut out the car in the left lane. The other car hopped onto the island and their front tire blew out.
Mike Pintek of KDKA-AM radio criticized the idea of a drivers' cell phone ban on his evening talk show. "If we ban cell phones to reduce driver distractions," said Pintek, "what's next - banning billboards, or street signs, or CD players, or drinking coffee, or eating a sandwich, or yelling at your kids?"
Young residents of Pennsylvania agree with Chairman Robertson and Mr. Pintek. When a group of ten college students from the Philadelphia area were asked if they owned a cell phone and used it regularly, all of them said they used it for calling and texting. Eight out of ten respondents used their cell phones at least once while driving, and half regularly use their phone while driving. "I drive and talk and text on my phone all the time while driving," according to Kait*, "and I do not feel it's a danger practice."
Another student, Liz*, feels "it is completely unnecessary to ban phones while driving. A responsible person knows when to and when not to use their phones. In a lot of traffic, you can bet I won't use my phone." Other students agree.
But, when asked if they have broken any road rules while driving, Kait* spoke up. "I was driving on a small, dark street after dropping my friend off, and I received a text message. I flipped open my phone, replied to the message, and the next thing I knew, I was being pulled over by a police car. I received a ticket for blowing a stop sign." She explained that even with getting caught and receiving a monetary punishment, she still texts while driving. Mostly, the other students may have violated a traffic law; however, none were caught.
When the students were asked if they caused any collisions, nine said no. One girl, Karen*, said that although she was responsible for the accident, she was not charged for it. "I was driving on the [Roosevelt] Boulevard, and I was writing a quick reply to a text message. When I looked up, the car in front of me slowed down." Karen explained that she swerved out of her lane and cut out the car in the left lane. The other car hopped onto the island and their front tire blew out.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
New Wave Dave
posted 7/03/09 @ 4:44 PM EST
If you text (or type) like this "Shd u txt n drive?" then you shouldn't be allowed to text (or type) at all, whether driving or not.
Allentown Movers
posted 7/17/09 @ 12:27 PM EST
I think it's really dangerous to text while driving. I do it sometimes but I find that I get very distracted by texting and I don't pay as much attention to driving as I need to, so I try to avoid doing that. (Continued…)
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