Tennessee To Ban Texting While Driving
Americans are adept at adopting new technology, and texting (sending a text message via a cell phone) is one of the new tools that has been easily learned and utilized among a population that seems driven to constant communication -- and in many cases, driven to distraction.
Take the rise in incidents in which someone writing or reading a text message while driving ends up causing an automobile accident. Several states have enacted or are considering laws to ban texting while driving. Add now Tennessee to the list of places where fumbling with a digital device while driving may soon be illegal, following a trend that is picking up speed around the country.
New Jersey and Washington State already ban the activity and the proposed Tennessee law would slap offenders with a $50 fine plus a $10 court cost. The Tennessee state senate transportation committee has already had a hearing on the bill, introduced by Republican state senator Jim Tracy. The state House has not yet scheduled hearings as the Senate won't be voting for at least another two weeks.
From The Tennessean.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
none of your biz @ Feb 21st 2008 4:59PM
while they are at it, they should ban tail gating to..........they are the worst in TN
john c @ Feb 21st 2008 5:31PM
i think it is about time that the cell phone texting should be banned while driving. i also feel they should go one step further, no talking on cell phones while driving. if you can not wait to talk hire a driver or start walking. let's make driving a little bit safer.
Bob @ Feb 21st 2008 6:18PM
God above, what next, let me guess, ooh that's right, another law hahahahaha You are not paying attention to traffic, you are not focused on what you are doing. Already a law for this nonsense. You are driving while being distracted.. Let me guess what could be next..... outlawing someone changing their radio and or cd's while driving
james carter @ Feb 22nd 2008 12:45AM
yeah for tn.how about rest of states make fines bigger new york could have to go with cell phone use law they donot enforce as cops are on phone and texting.
DAVID @ Feb 22nd 2008 7:20AM
Good for Tennessee!! Now if the entire country would do this, as well as ban the use of a cell phone while a vehicle is in motion, perhaps we could cut down on the unnecessary carnage on our hiways caused by this stupidity.
Steve @ Feb 24th 2008 2:18PM
Just a comment in general. My cell phone is a phone. Thats it. I've never once in my life text messaged nor have I sent a picture by cell phone, I only talk with it. Since people still send messages and pictures to me I had verizon wireless disable both features. I could'nt do it if I wanted to. Parents that pay the bill... make your kids safer. Have it disabled.
Silver Thread @ Feb 24th 2008 2:22PM
Get ready for more nuisance laws. How do you make laws that relate to common sense? No pickin your nose. No blowing your nose while driving. How about scratching your ass. You know the wild hair thing? Our law makers are out of hand and people have just lost their common sense. Wake up folks we're all in this together! Don't be an idiot!
smashedbobnopant @ Feb 24th 2008 2:26PM
In new jersey starting March 1st the cops can pull you over just for texting or talking on your cell phone without a handsfree device... And their fine is $100
Jack @ Feb 24th 2008 2:28PM
It is also veru distracting driving with kids fighting in the backseat. Are they going to "OUTLAW" that soon too?
Missy @ Feb 24th 2008 2:52PM
Its about time.Cell phones should be banned from all cars everywhere.
jmeslacr @ Feb 24th 2008 2:58PM
To all of you people who are bitching about this being a control thing, how about you paying for the acidents that are caused by these IDIOTS.
Barry @ Feb 24th 2008 3:06PM
A law that should be made is that a cop who pulls you over for texting while driving has the right to smack you upside your head and confiscate the phone until your court date. Sadly, these 'nuisance' laws neem to be made because too many people are too stupid to figure it out on their own.
Ellie @ Feb 24th 2008 3:17PM
Great idea in theory, but not in practice. NY banned talking on cell phones while driving without a hands-free device a few years ago. To this day, it's still not uncommon to see people on the phone while they drive. *shrug* It would be nice if people had the common sense to keep their hands on the wheel and their minds on the road while they drive, but unfortunately, a million and a half laws couldn't achieve that. You can (theoretically) keep people from engaging in some activities while driving that are distracting, but you can't have any control over where their minds wander while driving.
badday @ Feb 24th 2008 3:28PM
Whatever happened to common sense? Is $60 going to stop someone from risking a wreck from texting? Not likely! They will probably keep on doing whatever until someone gets killed...then whine about it. The rich kids will cry over the $60 and get someone they know to get them out of paying it. The poor kids will get a wrap sheet and end up with 3 strikes...The state is just doing it for more revenue along with the red light cameras.
John @ Feb 24th 2008 3:33PM
First, as for cops: they do what they want, because they won't ticket each other, be it cell phones, speeding, running red lights. Unfortunately, we DO need this law, along with one to prohibit emailing, Watching TV, using a computer, reading the paper or putting on makeup while driving.
CECIL @ Feb 24th 2008 3:33PM
ALL I CAN SAY IS GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GREAT AND HOPE OTHER STATES FOLLOW!!!!!!!!!
Bobby1254 @ Feb 24th 2008 3:40PM
What gets me is before there was cell phones and text messaging, what was the excuse for stupid drivers? No matter what law is past there will always be stupid drivers. Lets face it, some people should NEVER be allowed to drive with or without cell phone or any other distractive things in life like breathing that cause them to be horrible drivers...
GO VOLS!!!
maria @ Feb 24th 2008 3:48PM
i didnt know it wasnt illegal in all states yet. new mexico has outlawed both texting and talking on a cell phone (with hands free headsets being the exception). its about darn time!
earth mama @ Feb 24th 2008 4:14PM
Well that was a no-brainer... just good old common sense, which is not so common anymore.
What did people do before cell phones and texting?
We're talking the last 10 or more years... we must not have had a life then lolol..
Roy Parrish @ Feb 24th 2008 4:26PM
You are already paying higher insurance premiums for the accidents they cause. People get in their cars, get on the phone and can't get out of their parking space,School bus drivers with a bus load of kids, on the phone. We have enough laws on the books, just no one to enforce them. People are killed every day by careless drivers.and when it happens to them, it was just an accident.