Imagine a hypothetical scenario in which you are driving in the right-hand lane of a four-lane divided highway when another vehicle pulls up on your left. Now imagine that person slowly starting to drift into your lane. Alarmed, you move to the right and glance over at the other driver, whose attention is riveted to a cell phone on which he is stabbing away with his thumbs.
For far too many drivers, this is not hypothetical – from either perspective. And when that distraction results in a crash, it’s regrettably avoidable.
No one should argue against a prohibition on texting while driving. In a perfect world, a law forbidding it would be unnecessary. Common sense should dictate appropriate behavior behind the wheel; if it did, the cockpit of an automobile would be more like that of an aircraft – an uncomfortable seat surrounded by the instruments and controls necessary to operate the vehicle, and nothing more.
If that’s overkill, then the anti-texting bill passed in the Alabama House this week is underkill.
Sure, the measure outlaws sending and receiving text messages, and is careful defining text-based communications to include email. That’s covering all bases.
However, the bill specifies that it’s OK if the text communication is “voice-operated” and doesn’t require the use of a hand except to activate or deactivate a feature or function.
Further, “the term does not include reading, selecting or entering a telephone number or name in a cell or wireless telephone or communication device for the purpose of making a telephone call. …” the bill states.
Lawmakers have missed the mark with this measure. They’ve succeeded in criminalizing the use of a hand or hands in the creation of a text message while ignoring the heart of the matter – distraction from the road.
The bill will go to the Senate, where its shortcomings should be remedied.
A law that haphazardly addresses an issue is worse than no law at all.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement