Illinois Considering Anti-Walking-and-Texting Bill
While seemingly ridiculous, the bill's sponsor Ken Dunkin assures us that this is no laughing matter. Two pedestrians have been killed this year in New York City because they were allegedly texting while crossing the street. Even one of our contributors had a close call and was saved from a potentially life-ending texting and crossing accident by a certain Star Trek star. But famous folks are getting into texting-while-walking accidents, too. Take Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, who twisted her ankle when she stepped off a curb while distracted by her BlackBerry.
Though there aren't any hard statistics regarding injuries from texting while walking, anecdotal evidence abounds. The American College of Emergency Physicians issued a warning about the practice after it gathered reports from ERs around the country, including a pair of deaths in California, and loads of superficial wounds from walking into telephone poles, lamp posts, and yes, even walls.
So maybe there is something to this law, which on the surface is just begging to be mocked. However, like jaywalking, this law is not likely to be easily enforceable, we think. [Source: GeekSugar and CBS News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Dan Balanoff said 12:03PM on 7-31-2008
FLUNKIN DUNKIN! After reading the article I’m alarmed that a State Representative who’s district is facing so many serious problems is spending his time introducing such unnecessary legisltaion. It’s not laughable, it’s just plain irresponsible. Ken Dunkin should be more concerned with the children being killed on his streets and the state’s buget crisis rather than the texting habbits of Chicago’s walkers. What’s he going to take on next, J walking?!
-Dan Balanoff
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Jen Clark said 2:07PM on 7-31-2008
I looked up Ken Dunkin on Google and I just knew he had to be a democrat! They won't be happy until they control every aspect of our lives because obviously we can't be trusted to make our own decisions. What ever happened to "survival of the fittest?" We have to stop preventing stupid people from killing themselves because they keep re-producing!
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kathyn4kids said 2:49AM on 8-02-2008
I TOTALLY AGREE W U!!
Bobby G said 2:12AM on 8-02-2008
Yeah, Jen. But, what about when some idiot walks in front of your car and you end up with a banged up front end and broken windshield? I say give 'em a ticket. There are too many stupid people causing too many stupid problems. We should make a little money off of them. Charge them the same as if they were driving at night without headlights on.
Ozimiria said 4:39PM on 7-31-2008
Having lived in Illinois, I can tell you how ridiculous our legislators and elected officials can be. I would deliberately and flagrantly violate this ridiculous law, and work hard to remove every elected official that voted for it, by campaigning for the next inept porkbelly'er to challenge them.
At least, that's how the system should work. As we all know, it doesn't go that way. That's why I moved out, and don't plan on returning.
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Jay Skal said 8:17PM on 8-01-2008
I never comment on these issues, but this is too much. Why should there be a law to protect people that are too stupid to take care os themselves when they have complete control over when and where they text message. Unlike distracted drivers, who pose a danger to others, pedestrian text messagers have only themselves to blame for their own injuries, discomfort or death.
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Bill said 9:20PM on 8-01-2008
I'm sure our founding fathers are rolling in their graves. This measure is so close to 1984 it's beyond ridiculous. I guess we should also ban walking with friends, family and strangers as well. We may talk to them while crossing the street and this, in turn, may create a distraction. I can't wait to actively campaign against Ken Dunkin since he is my representative.
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Stephanie said 12:28AM on 8-02-2008
Hey Bill, talk about taking the story to a rediculous extreme. Although I don't agree with this law, it's people like you that are dumb enough to get hit, the one whose safety is attempting to be protected by this law. Don't bring Orwell into this, with your level of intelligence, and devotion to conspiracy theory, Tom Clancy is really much closer to your speed. Stupid marxist.
dutchesoclair said 9:29PM on 8-01-2008
if you people can not see that the goverment is trying to pull every right you have from under you! All I got to say is you are all hopless and deserve to be treated as slaves to the goverment for them to do to you as they wish!!!! I say that the people in ILL should find where this guy lives and camp out buy the thousands chanting over and over WE DONT WANT YOUR HITLER WAYS and burn NATZI flags at his door steep
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sid said 9:45PM on 8-01-2008
it's a bad law, it'll keep too many stupid people alive to do harm to others!
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Kyla said 10:45PM on 8-01-2008
I agree. Laws like this interfere with the process of Mother Nature thinning the herd of the truly stupid.
deek said 4:14AM on 8-02-2008
In LA I see people walking across cross walks as though they are in robotic slow moving trances as they text while I or other drivers wait for them to slowly cross and I would like to run over them myself..lol. But more importantly how about while driving... at so many stop signs or signal light you have to beep your horn at the car driver in front of you that is texting to get them to go. I've seen people texting actually stop at green lights too. Here in LA over the last 3 years it has gotten out of control and it takes so much longer to drive any where because of texting at intersections or driving slowly as they text. I mean c'mon some people drive slow with a headset on because they are so distracted that they can't focus on 2 things... One time i was walking and saw a man in rush hour traffic texting and driving much slower than the speed of other drivers who were honking at him so he stopped in the lane and put on his flashers and finished his text over a minute or more while people behind waited... I have seen mothers with kids/babies in car seats driving down the freeways at 60+mph swerving out of there lanes not to mention teens that are already inexperienced drivers swerving over the lines as they drive and text. At my gym people text all through their work out and take up equipment as they text which is the most irritating thing especially when it's crowded. I also text and it's super convenient but not at the inconvenience or hazard of others... and yes some people are able to text and drive at the same time but that would probably be about as many who are also good and aware drivers, maybe 10%.........................................................
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apelay10 said 9:59PM on 8-01-2008
The goverment is trying to make this country a coutry where fleas have more rights than humans.I would try to remove every person who voted for this bill be removed from office but the public can't remove someone from office unless they do a major crime.Some people are so crazy with power that they make the dummest laws.
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Ashley said 11:33PM on 8-01-2008
I agree that this should not be a law because people should be held accountable for their own actions if they decide to put themselves at risk like that. However, I can assure you that removing the right to text while crossing a street is not lowering our rights to below those of fleas. We have numerous rights that others don't have, but instead of being thankful for them everyone complains about how it's just not enough. They're not suggesting this legislation to impose on our rights, they're suggesting it for the safety of people, even if they are the dumbest (not dummest) people around. You shouldn't feel the need to force everyone from office just because they supported the bill. Are you really so easily persuaded, or possibly ignorant, to believe that because someone supported this particular bill that they are bad government leaders? I really don't see how someone supposedly "crazy with power" (and you should use that phrase very loosely) would see this as a way to demonstrate their authority, anyways. You should be more informed about the distribution of power in our government.
brad aka clumsy! said 10:09PM on 8-01-2008
okay the law is stupid because people are stupid--- you can be sipping coffee, etc anything to distract you. if you have a cross sign you should expect a reasonable amount of safety no matter what is distracting you, however never assume that completely too often people are turning right on red, and not looking for pedestrians, or running lights.
so i called myself clumsly, because once i was texting nonstop, walked off the bus tripped fell on the sidewalk! too distracted to see the curb was further than I thought! i stopped texting so much --- for the amount of time alot of us spend imiming/texting we could be face to face having coffee! or talk on the phone!
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MisterKphett said 10:22PM on 8-01-2008
You cant or shouldnt legistlate "stupidity". If your lack what is called intelligence.. which many people these days do... then you deserve whatever fate befalls you for being such a supreme ignromaus. If you feel that you gotta text while walking because YOU ARE JUST THAT IMPORTANT... and get hit head on by a lethal weapon (car/truck) then you my friend deserve whatever you got coming your way. Trying to legistlate stupidity is pointless... because as long as humans exist... stupidity will live on.
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Snarky said 10:25PM on 8-01-2008
Unfreakingbelievable. The all-wise government feels the need to step in again and protect society from it's own overwhelming stupidity. First it was seatbelts, then bicycle helmets, talking on a cell phone while driving, and now texting while walking? What's the charge going to be.... TWW?
Enough with the government micro-managing our lives already.
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Fuzzywhoa said 10:33PM on 8-01-2008
You have to be kidding me, where is the personal accountablility? If you cant be bothered about your own well being, why should the law??? Come on, if you are that stupid that you fall off a side walk while texting than you deserve whatever ill fate you get.
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Mommyanne said 11:34AM on 8-02-2008
Perhaps a law like this would protect drivers when one of these texting people walk in front of a car, get hit, then want to sue the driver.
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Rosie Ripper said 12:11AM on 8-02-2008
People are BORGS! Cell phones to the ear, typing texts messages while walking, swimming, driving and probably while hving sex in some cases.
But the ones that really get me are the people who wear the ear device that sticks out with a microphone. If they knew how absolutely stupid they look walking around with this ugly device sticking outof the side of their heads, and seemingly always talking ot themselves all the time.
Cell phones for texting and talking are getting to be a national sickness. I hate listening to people talking over their ear device outload every where. We have no choice as we are dragged into the stupid conversations they are having with some other moron.
The ear devices make people appear like the BORG on Drugs!. Anyway I think they should stick it somewhere else rather than their ears. Then at least they can hear people who tell them they are about to get run over by a car at a crosswalk. OH, by the way this is proof of my point about people talking on the ear things. I landed at LAX the other day and walking out of the plane up the ramp into the terminal, this cute little lady was right next to me. She said, Gee, I am glad tobe back in LA again. I said, yeh me too. She said, I think I need a drink after that flight! I said, I hear that. Guess what? She was talking to me at all, I was responding to her conversatin on her ear piece which Idid not see. Ha Ha. Is that funny or what. Bob
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