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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > August > 10 > Entry
Editorial: Drive and type? That’s legal?
The practice of driving and texting is insane.
If there was a documentable trend of people tying their shoes and driving, or reading books while going 65 mph, or anything else that required them to take their eyes off the road for an average of five seconds at a pop, the outcry would be overwhelming.
How, then, texting and driving has become socially acceptable is hard to explain. Mostly, it tells you how ridiculously hooked on cell phones we are.
Several proposals have been introduced in the Ohio legislature to outlaw the practice.
The disagreements are not so much about whether a ban makes sense, but whether the law should allow drivers to be pulled over and ticketed just for texting, or if they have to be stopped for something else.
Waiting for an offender to hurt or kill himself or someone else is too forgiving. If an officer sees someone texting or dialing, that’s worth a stop, a citation and a fine. Too much is at risk.
Some studies have found that truckers who text travel the length of a football field while they’re typing on their telephones. Do you want to be in the car that a semi comes upon quickly and unexpectedly?
An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety poll last spring found that 87 percent of people consider motorists e-mailing or texting to be threatening, which is just shy of the 90 percent who think drunken drivers are a menace. Nonetheless, 21 percent had recently offended.
That’s pretty compelling evidence that a law is necessary, that much-needed education campaigns won’t be enough.
Not shockingly, the number of self-confessing texters was highest among drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, about half of whom said they had sent text messages from behind the wheel.
Oh good. The youngest, least experienced drivers who are confident nothing will ever happen to them are glued to their screens the most frequently.
Maybe those who want to make texting only a “secondary offense” — requiring that the driver be stopped for, say, running a light or bobbing and weaving — will think twice about their reasoning if they can imagine young people picking up a habit that they may well practice all their lives.
Think of how dangerous the roads could become if texting and cruising at highway speeds increasingly becomes the norm.
Banning any form of texting is so much easier than regulating cell phones and driving. The great bulk of people who would draw the line at texting have before, or do regularly, drive and talk. Increasingly, though the research on even that is becoming more alarming.
Some studies have found that drivers using a cell phone increase their odds of crashing by four times; the loss of reaction time is equal to that of someone who has a .08 percent blood alcohol level, which, in Ohio, is the legal threshold for being intoxicated.
One safety researcher says:
“We’ve spent billions on air bags, antilock brakes, better steering, safer cars and roads, but the number of fatalities has remained constant. Our return on investment for those billions is zero. And that’s because we’re using devices in our cars.”
Seventeen states have banned texting. Ohio should do the obvious, too.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorials, Ellen Belcher, Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Ohio government, Ohio politics
Comments
By ricardo
August 10, 2009 5:31 PM | Link to this
Ditto. If you need to (fill in the blank): text, call,put on make up, read or anything else besides driving - pull over. It’s not all about you - others lives are at riskBy Don
August 10, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this
Banning texting as a primary offense is a no brainer. But let’s not go overboard. The data that talking on a hands-free cell phone is equivalent to being at the legal limit for alcohol is suspect and based on silly simulator tests like the ability to remember the contents of billboards. Why doesn’t the OH State Police study actual accidents and record whether or not talking on a cell phone was coincident? This real-world data would be more convincing than irrelevant academic studies.By Jon
August 10, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this
Yep .. Texting messages and cellphone talking is as dangerous as a person under the influence of alcohol or prescribed medicine or drugs . The evidence is very clear and more people are dying or injured from it everyday especially when they are speeding ( exceeding the speed limit ) while driving .By common sense
August 10, 2009 6:42 PM | Link to this
Don is right. Texting is dangerous but I don’t see how talking on a cell phone is as dangerous. People should be allowed to text or dial cell phones while stopped at red lights, but not while driving. But the bigger issue too is that the DDN has once again come out against individual freedom and wants the big brother government to regulate everyones lives.By ICanTalkAndDrive
August 10, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this
Talking on the phone and texting are two completely different activities, and they should be treated as such. Anything that takes your eyes off of the road is ALREADY ILLEGAL. We are simply wasting tax money letting our lawmakers argue over this. Hands-free conversations are completely different; your eyes stay on the road, at least one ear is open to the road. You prioritize the data your brain receives and pay attention to the road first, having your caller repeat themselves when necessary. Completely different from texting. Texting already IS illegal if you take your eyes off of the road, see Reckless Driving in the Ohio Revised Code. Officers should already be allowed to pull drivers over for it as a first offense as driving without watching the road is considered Reckless Endangerment and is grounds for immediate license suspension.By painfultruth
August 10, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
The law will ignored by most, and it’s hardly enforceable. Just like drinking and driving, it’s only a problem when you are caught. The more laws we make, the more criminals we create!By MsScarlett
August 10, 2009 7:59 PM | Link to this
What a great editorial! There is enough going on in front of you when you are driving that to be focused on anything else IS insane!! There is no one in the world so important that could not wait to text or answer someone AFTER they are pulled over. I have no problem with a new law against it at all. I had a guy make a left turn right in front of me and my light had been green for 30+ seconds so I was moving. He was yapping on his stupid cell phone! It gets very very old.By Defensive Driver
August 10, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this
We need this law!Texting is Russian Roulette. I see 2 or 3 near misses each day on our drive to work and everytime…they are talking on a cell phone or texting. I see people texting, smoking and eating at the same time…how are they streering? We need this law.By motorcycle momma
August 10, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this
Well, my boyfriend almost was hit on his motorcycle due to a woman: smoking, putting on lip gloss, brushing her hair,looking in the mirror and talking on cell phone while driving.. He has a loud motorcycle, and she said she didn’t see or hear him. GO FIGURE!By beezlebub
August 10, 2009 9:08 PM | Link to this
I like to smoke weed and blog while I drive. Takes the edge off.By George
August 10, 2009 9:09 PM | Link to this
One cannot text, converse, read a newspaper/map while driving and concentrate on driving. Especially the way people drive in this town. It’s the old saw about doing two things at the same time, well. Simply can’t be done!By mic
August 10, 2009 9:16 PM | Link to this
More than 10 years ago, my car was totaled and a 5-car pileup on I-75 was caused by a guy getting his voicemail from work. In the police report, he was going 70 mph and never saw the rest of us stop because of construction. What will it take before people understand that it takes a fraction of a second of inattention to kill someone else in a car? Texting? My God!!!By null
August 10, 2009 9:18 PM | Link to this
my car was almost creamed the other day by a motorcyclist turning left from the right lane. he had been riding on my right for several miles. i dont think he was talking nor texting (neither was I). i dont know if his bike was loud or not, my car isnt. we can be lulled into not paying attention even without personal electronic devices, car or bike. we have a right to freedoms, when we use the responsbility to pay attention when wielding hundreds of pounds of metal going at fast speeds.By Hope
August 10, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
I do talk on my cell phone while I’m driving…but I also have a bluetooth when doing so. I do not text. I used too, but I don’t anymore. It is very dangerous.By Jim
August 10, 2009 10:17 PM | Link to this
Don, Here’s why cell phones should be banned while driving too. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/crime/driver-involved-in-fatal-crash-talking-on-cell-phone-police-say-238148.html?cxtype=fb_mltBy shellymoe
August 11, 2009 12:46 AM | Link to this
So if someone is pulled over would they be required to let officers search their phone? Wouldn’t that involved paid training to teach officers how to use each type of phone? Also, would a warrant need to be issued before searching the phone if the driver doesn’t agree to it? I’m all for banning texting while driving, but how much will it cost us?By excusemebutt
August 11, 2009 6:45 AM | Link to this
Excuse me, but texting while driving is already illegal. Just as any other dangerous practice behind the wheel, e.g. tying your shoes, reading a book, not paying attention to the road, etc. If an officer observes such behavior behind the wheel, he can pull you over and cite you for “reckless operation” under Ohio law. We don’t need a specific law banning a specific form of reckless behavior. Just enforce the laws we already have on the books! For Pete’s sake, enough laws already. Where are the “less government” proponents when you need them?By davidss2
August 11, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
All distractions during driving need to be cited. The folks who think because they have hands-free talking they actually can keep their attention on driving and talk are wrong. There is a mental distraction when you’re not talking to the person live in front of you. Holding a cell phone to your ear or talking away with both hands on the wheel still has you mind occupied with listening to the nuances in the voice to determine the meaning of what they’re saying. ————So those who are self-righteous about having hands free, wrong. It’s not safe.By HangUpAndDriveUIdiot
August 11, 2009 2:39 PM | Link to this
“common sense”, you are so wrong. You are still driving when sitting at a red light. No matter what you think, talking or texting, you are driving like an idiot. Every day I commute to work I see at least one out of every five cars causing a hazard cause they have a phone on their ear or holding it up and punching button. The only law I would like to see passed is to allow me to shoot your tires legally. Then you idiots would be where you belong, on the side of the road.By TTT
August 12, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
Don’t you know,human life in this country ranks 3rd behind the ECONOMY and PERSONAL FREEDOM.By TTT
August 12, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
Don’t you know,human life in this country ranks 3rd behind the ECONOMY and PERSONAL FREEDOM.By PLC
August 13, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Texting, talking on cell while driving……. How far must our “Ohio legislators lean” before they come to the realization that using a cell phone while driving is a serious diversion which can result in serious damage to property and the safety of innocent people? Ralph Nader was able to convince the government to legislate the installation of seat belt and air bags to all new cars sold in the entire country. These were products that most customers wouldn’t pay for until it was mandated into the price of the car. Where is Ralph when we need him? A simple mandate could be that the car must be installed with a device that makes the Cell phone unusable while the car is motion or not in PARK. Disabling this device could carry a serious fine to discourage the creative phone techies. This relieves the police, who have enough on their plate, from having to prove that the driver was using the phone while driving. An alternative solution which might be favored by the Ohio legislator who wants to further liberalize the “Conceal/Carry” law might be; allowing a person, when in a life threatening situation, to “shoot first and ask questions later”. I have encountered several such situations where fortunately I was more alert than the “Cell phonic” driver. As with guns and cell phones, the tools don’t kill people, the users kill people.By PLC
August 13, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Texting, talking on cell while driving……. How far must our “Ohio legislators lean” before they come to the realization that using a cell phone while driving is a serious diversion which can result in serious damage to property and the safety of innocent people? Ralph Nader was able to convince the government to legislate the installation of seat belt and air bags to all new cars sold in the entire country. These were products that most customers wouldn’t pay for until it was mandated into the price of the car. Where is Ralph when we need him? A simple mandate could be that the car must be installed with a device that makes the Cell phone unusable while the car is motion or not in PARK. Disabling this device could carry a serious fine to discourage the creative phone techies. This relieves the police, who have enough on their plate, from having to prove that the driver was using the phone while driving. An alternative solution which might be favored by the Ohio legislator who wants to further liberalize the “Conceal/Carry” law might be; allowing a person, when in a life threatening situation, to “shoot first and ask questions later”. I have encountered several such situations where fortunately I was more alert than the “Cell phonic” driver. As with guns and cell phones, the tools don’t kill people, the users kill people.By PLC
August 13, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
Texting, talking on cell while driving……. How far must our “Ohio legislators lean” before they come to the realization that using a cell phone while driving is a serious diversion which can result in serious damage to property and the safety of innocent people? Ralph Nader was able to convince the government to legislate the installation of seat belt and air bags to all new cars sold in the entire country. These were products that most customers wouldn’t pay for until it was mandated into the price of the car. Where is Ralph when we need him? A simple mandate could be that the car must be installed with a device that makes the Cell phone unusable while the car is motion or not in PARK. Disabling this device could carry a serious fine to discourage the creative phone techies. This relieves the police, who have enough on their plate, from having to prove that the driver was using the phone while driving. An alternative solution which might be favored by the Ohio legislator who wants to further liberalize the “Conceal/Carry” law might be; allowing a person, when in a life threatening situation, to “shoot first and ask questions later”. I have encountered several such situations where fortunately I was more alert than the “Cell phonic” driver. As with guns and cell phones, the tools don’t kill people, the users kill people.By n
August 15, 2009 3:31 PM | Link to this
for the one that said I can not text while SITTING STILL at a red light: I will stop texting there when I stop seeing mothers and fathers turning around in their seats to talk to their kids in the back or change out the kids DVD. Or when I see all kids buckled in,or maybe when I see parents stop running lights with babies/kids in the car because they are late. I see more people not talking on a cell phone trying to run me off the road (when I am not talking on one either) than I do cell phone talkers. A few people can’t chew gum and talk at the same time and the rest of us get crucified for it. Oh and I see just as many people running that dang left turn green arrow that are not on cell phones as I do those that are on cell phones. People are just too impatient to obey traffic laws anymore whether they are on the phone or not!!! Stop jumping on the “Let’s hate and outlaw this thing now cause it is killing everyone” or the “if I don’t like it or can’t do it no one can”. The lady that killed the couple (boy from Waynesville and his girlfriend) on the motorcycle not too long ago by going left of center wasn’t on the phone and yet she killed two people. Where is your excuse on that one?? Should we ban all people that work her hours, her job, h*ll should we ban all women from driving again since she apparently can’t drive?