Maybe Soon...
posted by Spencerblog at
11:35 AM
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
posted by Spencerblog at
11:35 AM
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33 Comments:
Sorry Gil. I have to support this legislation. Texting or dialing while driving is dangerous, pure and simple. Driving isn't a right, it's a privilege and along with that come's a responsibility to fellow drivers and pedestrians.
By golly, Bob, make a note: We wholeheartedly agree on the texting-ban as well as the privilege and responsibility of having a license to drive...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hot damn Sir Charles! Will Jake be next? News at 11.
Captain Hindsight
Enjoy today's column, boys. Especially this part:
"You would think that states that have passed cellphone and texting bans would have seen some major decrease in the number of accidents. And yet, oddly, they haven’t. According to a 2010 study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, not only did accident rates not go down when cellphones were banned, states that banned texting actually saw their accident rates go up."
Go figure.
Gil - This column sounds vaguely familiar, and it sounds like Gil trying to convince Gil. Regardless, here's my explanation as to why these laws work, and it's plain and simple. First off, I have to say that I don't text, so I'll use cell phone use in general for my explanation. In Pa. using a cell phone while driving is legal. More than once, I've found myself distracted by trying to dial a number on my phone, looked up and noticed that the car in front of me was braking, and I've had to jam on my brakes. I'm seriously working on curbing that bad behavior. But for several yrs. now, when I cross the bridge into Jersey, I know damn well that there's a law against using a cell phone while driving, and I obey that law. In Jersey, I'll pull off to the side of the road to make that call. And I've noticed a lot of other people do the same thing, so I don't believe it's just me.
If you believe these laws work please explain the results of the HLDI study.
Gil - I can't explain the results of the study, however I can honestly say that these laws prevent me from using my cell phone while driving in Jersey, and that makes me a less distracted driver in Jersey. Now multiply that by all of the other drivers who behave the same way.
You're trying to tell us that these laws dont change behavior. I'm telling you that these laws do change behavior.
Bob,
Anecdotal evidence is worthless for policy making. It elevates individual experiences beyond their statistical relevance.
Bad drivers will continue to be bad drivers whether texting is banned or not.
We don't need more laws that exist only to make the lawmakers feel good.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jake - My personal experience still makes me think that Gil is wrong about this, but just for the sake of argument, let's assume that he's right. I don't see any exceptional monetary cost that would make enforcing this law prohibative, and if it only changes the behavior of a few, what harm is done?
Because Bob, restricting the rights of many, based on the actions of a few, is how you move from freedom to repression.
Jake - Again, driving is a privilege, not a right. And along with that, we have rules. Example. We have child restraint laws that make you buckle up your kid. It's necessary because some people aren't responsible. If you had your way, would you eliminate that law?
By your logic, Bob, there is much we could do to safeguard this wonderful driving privilege bestowed on us by a generous bureaucracy:
We could have speedometer limiters that wouldn't allow anybody to go over 55 mph.
We could have breathalyzers on the ignition preventing anybody from driving who had been drinking.
We could outlaw food, makeup, cell phones, GPS and radios from cars so that drivers wouldn't be distracted.
We could take away licenses from anybody over 75 and anybody under 25.
We could make everybody buy their cars from Government Motors so the UAW pension fund is fat and happy.
Jake - Do you text while driving? That has to be one of the most dangerous things you can do. Its much different than adjusting the heat or changing a radio station.
And I think you will find yourself in the minority on this one. I think most people will be for this legislation. It's a common sense issue. Even though it's a privilege and not a right, if you want to use that argument, think of it like the gun control issue. Most of us believe in second amendment rights, but there there have to be limits on ownership. You would probably disagree with me on that too, but then again, you'd be in the minority.
Bob,
Freedom is not a majority/minority analysis. Freedom exists to specifically safeguard the rights of all people, not just the people in charge.
I don't text in the car and my kid always rode in his car seat. I don't allow people to smoke in my car and I'm not a big fan of eating in the car either. It's all pretty much common sense.
But I don't want an arrogant, inefficient government using my tax dollars to overpay a bunch of public sector drones to enforce their feel-good mandate dujour.
Jake - Try to sell that argument to someone who lost a loved one in a car accident because someone was texting instead of paying attention.
Highway traffic statistics indicate this is superfluous legislation. Hypothetical melodrama isn't a good basis for public policy either.
But I can play your game, Bob.
How would you feel if a member of your family was murdered while the police were distracted writing these senseless tickets?
Texting while driving is just plain stupid, period, while it is legal to text at redlights. Brilliant. Iamalredy getting good use of my horn. Common
sense goes alot further than any stats
Jake: I cannot understand why you would advocate that texting while driving should not be against the law. There is no question that it is stupid. I am not in favor of frivilous laws that are hard to enforce. But, like Bob, when I drive in NJ, I don't use my cell phone when driving because it is against the law. And speaking of enforcement of laws, why is it that as I am driving on I-95 North and encounter the PennDot alert sign, it says that it takes 6 minutes to travel 6 miles to I-76? Isn't 6 minutes to travel 6 miles going at 60 miles per hour? When right after the PennDot sign there is a Speed Limit 55 sign?
Jake - You oppose a no texting law that will save lives, because as you claim, it will restrict the rights of many. The right to do what? Text while driving? But I bet you would support a law that prevents gays from marrying wouldn't you? Because we all know how many people would die as a result of that! I'm glad you're commenting on this post Jake. Because it shows your mentality.
Bob,
Not to come between you and Jake but your claim that the no-texting law will "save lives" is totally unsubstantiated. Again, see the HDLI study.
Bob,
Superfluous laws, that have been statistically proven to be worthless, are a waste of time.
Superfluous liberals, who advocate such laws because it makes them feel good, are wasting valuable legislative time better spent cutting spending, cutting down the size of government and repealing other superfluous laws.
Gil - Nothing will ever come between me and Jake, thank you.
Jake - Did you support the defense of marriage Act?
Bob,
I try to stay on topic. Avoiding distractions is why I don't text and drive.
Are you proposing mobile wedding vows by text for same sex couples? I think I'm against that.
As far as gay marriage in general, no problem. Gays deserve to suffer as much as the rest of us.
Jake - The jokes old and stale, but your take on gay marriage is very progressive. I'm glad to see we can agree on something.
Excellent point de vue que je partage en tout points.
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