Texting fines

[storytimewithjoe]

Republicans and I don’t often agree. I think that is a safe statement. However, when it comes down to the most basic philosophy of Lincoln’s party, I do subscribe to the idea that the government that governs least, governs best. Or, to put it in Joe-speak, “Gubment, back the f$*% out of my face!” This came screaming through the other day as I was driving to the gym.

 

I have a confession to make, peeps. I text while I drive. GASP!!!!!! Oh, I know that political correctness has now pointed out that this is an evil thing. But guess what, kittens? I am a multitasking kinda person. I can drive and change the radio station, too! I can drive while eating a burger, too!

 

Now, I understand the concept behind the anti-driving-and-texting campaign. They are focused on the teenage girls who are busily twittering and twatting over their totally-hot-crush from the newest Twilight movie, not paying attention to traffic. Me, on the other hand, I can drive and watch the road while my non-driving hand is busily firing away in response to a text that I read while at a stop sign. Here in California, they created a slap-on-the-wrist fine for texting. Officers would pull you over, say “now-now, bad you”, and give you a $20 fine. Annoying, yes? Well, nowhere NEAR as annoying as the sign I read the other day stating that texting fines have now gone up to $160.

 

What-what-WHAT?!!!!!!

 

Now frankly, I am a major proponent of being responsible. I know what my limits are, and I know what I am capable of. And it really PISSES ME OFF to have a law in place telling me what I can and cannot do. For crying out loud, it is bad enough that I cannot legally hold a cellphone to my ear while driving. Now I can’t text, either? Yet, where is the campaign against the chickie putting on her mascara? Or the person flipping through their ipod selection? Let’s face it, folks, there are all kinds of driving distractions out there. For me, I am far, FAR more distracted by glowing billboards or road-side sign-twirlers. THOSE, I believe, are far more likely to be the cause of an accident than me responding to a text when I believe it to be safe.

 

Yes, I know I probably sound like grumpy old man here. Yes, I realize that the law ain’t perfect, and it is designed to address the population in general, and not just me. But still… it pisses me off!

 

Comments

[xrian.livejournal.com]

I agree that the problem is *distracted* driving, not just texting. But it seems to me that studies back up the idea that cell phones or texting are proportionately MORE distracting than most other distractions. Apparently the fact that you are interacting with someone else who is not physically present calls additional areas of your brain into action (possibly because you involuntarily visualize the other person, though they're not sure). So you have less brain left over to pay true attention to the road and exercise common sense with ;)

The experiment I remember most vividly has to do with clowns in a plaza: scientists interviewed people who had been engaged in various activities while walking past the clowns, and those who were engaged in cell phone conversations showed a significantly higher incidence of not having even *noticed* the clowns than people doing everything else -- walking, eating, or even conversing with a companion who was walking with them.

In my book, anything that lessens your ability to watch and intellectually process the road around you counts as "distraction". So I'd definitely fault the mascara-appliers, the texters and the woolgatherers (though that's hard to measure) but not the eaters or (nonalcoholic) drinkers. But that's IMHO.

Also, IIRC the ticket you actually get is for "distracted driving" not specifically for texting.