Teen Imprisoned for TXTing While Driving
We've reported on the potential dangers of driving while texting and what some states want to do about it. Today we have a sad story out of Britain about a 19 year old girl, Rachel Begg, who will serve four years in jail for crashing into and killing a 64-year-old grandmother.
Rachel was found to have sent numerous text messages while driving before the crash, using her phone for messaging and calls nine times in the 15-minute period before the crash. Her mobile distraction apparently resulted in her not seeing Maureen Waites' car, which Begg rear-ended and sent spinning into a barrier. Waites died at the scene while Begg suffered only neck injuries.
While four years in prison is not easy, we think she made out easier than the girls involved in the last texting-related accident.
From textually.org
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
S Wood @ Jul 23rd 2007 10:15AM
Teens or adults - people on cells are dangerous, selfish and too full of themselves to think they can drive with their attention diverted.
MalloryCA @ Jul 23rd 2007 11:06AM
TEXTing while driving is a willful deliberate deadly act, not an accident, which has killed innocent people. It is a distraction from the attention the driver should be paying to the road and his/her environment. A car is a deadly machine, to be taken very seriously, and drivers put other peoples lives at risk for their self-indulgent behaviour. DO NOT USE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVINVG. Pull over to the side of the road and text away all you want.
Sal @ Jul 23rd 2007 11:26AM
In Miami I see people text -chat on cell phone while speeding and weaving in and out of traffic in their SUV .
Ofcourse its Miami and imagine the Mayor doesnt care since for 2 consecutive yrs they "won" the worse drivers "award" under this Mayors reign .
Sandra @ Jul 23rd 2007 11:41AM
The fine for texting or talking on cell phone while driving should be insanely high PLUS ADD community service .
I dont care if people want to kill themselves but dont put safe drivers in danger with their selfish attitude .
Highway over passes and streets should have cameras with telescope lens to catch them a MONSTER of a fine will help pay for this right away .
Place them in different spots every few months . Like someone said "Lets not turn America into Miami as far as dangerous driving goes"
Kyle @ Jul 23rd 2007 2:51PM
Well nobody can stand to do only one SAFE thing at a time. they have to Multi-task and make it extremely dangerous.
Just the other day I saw someone surfing the internet on their Laptop...While driving their Dodge down the Road at 40 MPH, This was a big truck. And just going 10 MPH and hitting someone Could kill the innocent person going to work.
I say Ignorance and Stupidity is right for imprisonment, especially when endangering the lives of others around you.
Charles @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:08PM
If you think cell phone antics are out of control, just wait for what is going to happen when mobile TV becomes the next big craze.
--- CHAS
C williams @ Jul 24th 2007 8:56AM
I ran across this new highway safety program that caught my attention. the site is www.fivestarcommitment.com every driver needs to check it out.
shara from atlantaparis needs more than 23 days!! @ Jul 24th 2007 10:25AM
she killed a woman !!because of her driving negligence she took awy some ones mom ,grandmother,wife ! she should be getting more time then these kids and adults will see what happens look at the 5 newly graduates that just got killed from texting ! god can't texting wait till ya get pulled over and can pay attention instead of trying to drive and take someone's life !!!!!!!she will now see that life doenst have to be so fast she will have plenty of time to now WRITE OLD FASHIONED LETTERS TO HER FRIENDS.....!!!
Ohboymilost @ Jul 25th 2007 6:36AM
I still say the cell phone companies should be held partialy responsible for this happening.
Cell phones are an annoying invention!
Drivers killing people because of cell phone use, very sad.
Privacy is also being invaded. Look at all the photos that are being taken without people even knowing.
I myself hate cell phones. I feel that MOST people that use them seem to be so self absorbed and reckless. They seem to have no care for what is going on around them.
DETACHED FROM REALITY AND COMMENSENSE!
RealityCheck @ Jul 28th 2007 3:27AM
WHY is everyone blaming the cell phones? Why should cell phone companies be held partially responsible, as Ohboymilost believes? Do you know how many bimbos have caused major accidents while putting on makeup in the rearview mirror before cellphones were ever invented? What about the idiots reading a paper and drinking coffee, or eating a Big Mac and swerving alll over the place, while driving to work? Yes, I've seen it all... Let's get real - cell phones are NOT the problem - it's the idiots that misuse them while driving. That's like saying fire is bad because it has burned down buildings. These people themselves should be held responsible for being oblivious while driving, no matter what they have in hand to distract them. What we need is a more general law to penalize the stupid and the careless ones that put everyone else in danger.
wolfMom @ Jul 28th 2007 10:33AM
Isn't there already a general law to penalize
distracted, no-matter-what-the-cause driving?
Driving to endanger? People are responsible for
their actions! Like seat belts, though, it will become necessary to make it illegal to text message, etc. Already too many people fail to exercise common sense. Don't blame the cell phones. Their existance often saves lives on the roadways for non-cell use related incidents.
Britt @ Nov 20th 2007 2:32PM
Yes I think talking on the phone, texting, changing cd's, and many other things take our attention off the road and onto what we are doing while driving. But seriously, if you want to issue tickets to make people more aware of the road and not allow themselves to be distracted, why don't you make a law that covers all distractions that could put lives in jeopardy, not just texting. Just a thought.
murrdog @ Nov 25th 2007 7:15PM
ban all cell phones while driving
Kelly @ Feb 1st 2008 5:17PM
I am an auto insurance agent and I am appauled at what I see every day with regards to texting, or talking on cell phones and weaving in traffic, especially at rush hour. Then the accidents happen and claims are enormous and yet still no laws against this?? VA is working on one that makes it a primary (not secondary) offense if a youthful driver does this; but why not adults? It is truely amazing and beyond comprehension. Just STOP doing this people and your insurance rates will drop - I promise!
BlueEyes30101 @ Feb 24th 2008 3:14PM
What happened to the law that both hands were to be on the steering wheel while driving? Back in the day, hands were to be at 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock positions. People started eating while driving, make up being applied, reading the newspaper, combing hair, etc. Now, using cell phones and laptops while driving down the road. It's not just cell phones!!! ALL STATES should go back to the day when it was the law to have BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL!!!
jsmithsumrall @ Mar 21st 2008 10:37AM
Teens on a cell phone while driving an SUV represent the two most dangerous situations we have on american roads. They can't drive to begin with and then they distract themselves even further with the stupid phone. All idiots!
Mario Smith @ Apr 1st 2008 1:55PM
It's at times like these that we see the worth of politicians.