Texting while Driving

Many states have passed laws against talking on a cell phone while driving, but many are yet to enact a law against texting while driving. Only 10 states and the District of Columbia have bans on texting while driving, and ten more are set to join this coming January. California enacted the law earlier this year, prohibiting any texting by any age driver. Other states have criteria of age and place in regards to texting.

Nonetheless, texting while driving seems like a absurd thing to do, however it happens often enough (I've done quick texts in standstill traffic). But many opponents argue how is it any different from digging something out of the dashboard or even the all to famous girl doing her makeup behind the wheel, all having the same potential of being as disastrous as texting. However, statistically speaking according to the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration, in 2002, 955 deaths could be attributed to drivers on their cell phones and a study at Virginia Tech reveals there is a 23x greater chance of getting into an accident while driving compared to a driver focused on the road.

There is also the issue of enforcement. How can officers enforce a law that involves a discrete action. The use of cell phones are hardly limited to texting. And most often the case is the driver doesnt text in an officers face while driving. It is a subtle act, that often times is never intended. However, I think it boils down to a moral obligation. Texting while driving is not only putting yourself in danger, its potentailly putting the people around you at risk, and endangering countelss of innocent lives.

Whatever the outcome of future debates, texting while driving is no lesser of an evil than driving under the influence. The UK released a PSA to deter teens from texting. Note it is a reenactment, but nonetheless a horrifically staged depiction, especially when considering the human toll in real situations.