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In our current entitlement society, the ideas of personal responsibility no longer exist for the current generation of people from teenagers up to people at least in their 30's. I usually oppose laws like this, but when traffic accidents (with some percentage of deaths) due to this one cause (cell phone use while driving, whether talking non-hands-free or texting, which by definition is non-hands-free) reaches epidemic proportions (as it has), government exists specifically to serve the common good, so I support such a law -- with stiff penalties. Causing an accident while texting should cost the perpetrator at least 10 times the amount of the penalty resulting from no accident, and even that should be high enough to discourage it. Better, yet, would be passing a law for providers to not allow texting from a phone which is moving, say, greater than 5 mph. If they can't text while driving, they'll quit trying. And I realize such a block would inhibit non-drivers in a car from being able to text, which arguably is a consideration, but really -- as you say, they can wait for that text message. The benefit to society is greater than the inconvenience! Saying that there shouldn't be such a law "because aren't we all adults?" is like saying we shouldn't have laws against DWI because, "aren't we all adults? Don't we all know better than to get behind the wheel drunk?" Um, evidently not!See this is going to far. Their shouldn't be a law for this type of thing. I live in Washington and we have a state law for this and it doesn't stop anyone from using their phone wile driving. You even see Police Officers on their cell phones wile driving not to mention their radio. It's the same thing as the seat belt law. Aren't we adults? Do we really need some one to tell us what to do and how to do it? I mean come on, their's laws on everything these days basically for more revenue from tickets, etc. What happened for one's own self being responsible and reliable for what they do and the consequences.
I wasn't comparing drunk driving to driving while texting. I was comparing the statement about "aren't we all adults" being used to argue against passing a law addressing behavior. When you think about it, most of the laws on the books wouldn't be necessary if we all ACTED "like adults" (and showed concern for others as well as ourselves -- living the "Golden Rule"). The very fact that we have laws regulating our behavior is evidence that "we all" are NOT acting "like adults"...
The "empty road" doesn't always STAY empty. I remember driving down a country road one night many years ago, late at night when you wouldn't expect anyone else around, and for a long time, there wasn't. At one point, I passed a junction and, just as I crossed it, some hooligans ran their stop sign and almost nailed me! Fortunately, because I wasn't distracted, I was able to react in a way which allowed me to avoid the collision, but just barely. If I'd been distracted WITH ANYTHING at that point, I'd have gotten nailed (and probably killed). I don't think your assumption is a safe one. Just something to think about...
