It goes without saying that you shouldn’t “text while driving” … but we felt the need to say it anyway.
After all, we’re about to announce our opposition to a new law that would require states to ban text messaging while driving – or else (wait for it) face cuts in federal highway funding. The proposed law was unveiled Wednesday by four Democratic Senators (including North Carolina’s Kay Hagan), all of whom are apparently naive enough to believe that such a law would be either a) followed or b) enforced.
Currently, fourteen states and the District of Columbia prohibit text messaging while driving, which is fine. That’s their right, and they weren’t compelled to do so by an overreaching central government.
Three quick observations on this …
First, Hagan and her fellow Senators suck. Seriously, they’re nothing but two-bit, knee-jerk panderers looking for an excuse to hold a finger-wagging press conference. No really, Kay. MADD (circa 1987) called. It wants its righteous indignation back.
Second (and here’s the rub), this sort of federal blackmail runs 100% counter to the principles of limited, localized government that this nation was founded on – which is sadly par for the course these days. Now don’t get us wrong – politicians in Washington D.C. have every right to flap their gums on primary seat belt enforcement, speed limits and “texting while driving” bans, but they have no right to threaten states financially if they don’t comply.
That’s anti-democratic.
Third, how relevant is this really going to be in a few years? After all, isn’t it only a matter of time before our smart phones render text messaging completely obsolete? Seriously, we’ve already heard of “talk to text” applications that translate your voice into digital messages that can they be sent to whoever you want. Yeah … that will no doubt get our founding editor (a notorious text flirter) in a world of trouble if he’s not careful.
And he’s rarely careful … especially when driving.
By BigMac July 29, 2009 at 5:31 pm
So how many times have you witnessed a driver with a Big Mac hanging out of their mouth and what is the difference… How about since we are in SC; smoking a cig, talking on the phone and with Big Mac hanging out of mouth… Wait, there is more… as they drive through a red light.
By dirtbogger July 29, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I am against any federal legislation that expands government athority. There seems to be alot more people thinking same way theese days too. Its really nice to go to a gun show and be among like minded friends displaying their Gadsden flags, you know the ones with the snake on it that says Don’t Tread on Me. We all need to say enough is enough and push back no mater what sunshine legislation they are tring to blow up our ass’s! I do not need or want government in my life much less solving all my problems!
By what"s wrong with texting while driving July 29, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I’m commenting while driving right now. Hey when did that car stop. Bang.
By Gillon July 29, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I see from this post that you still subscribe to the teachings of the “Sanford, A citizen has the right to be as dumb as he wants to be, school.” You would think that a person who continually berates the low educational and intellectual level of South Carolinians would favor government rules that might encourage them to act in responsible ways.
By Fashizzle July 29, 2009 at 7:35 pm
If you run into another car I don’t care what made you do it. It is already illegal to hit someone with your car.
Enough already. We have too many laws as it is.
By w-s July 29, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Hold out for a change in the undemocratic seat belt laws.
Gillon, thanks for your coherent response.
By liz July 30, 2009 at 8:36 am
Next, you may not prepare dinner in your car on the way home from work, even if you own a great big moving home equipped with a kitchen.
You may not read while driving.
You may not write your term paper either.
Don’t balance your checkbook behind the wheel.
And for everyone’s sake, stop applying mascara while operating a moving vehicle.
Give me a break.
By Brandon July 30, 2009 at 10:16 am
Keep your eye on an accident just reported in Georgetown where a car ran another off the road, resulting in a fatal accident. If it turns out this cat was texting, it will be the straw that broke the camels back.
Just for the record, State Farm is shelling out over $10,000 to repair both of my vehicles because some dumb f*** was fiddling with his phone, hit a garbage can enclosure, then hit both of my vehicles parked nearby. I agree, we don’t need the feds handling this, but this is a real problem.
By scooter July 30, 2009 at 11:12 am
Common sense tells us that testing while driving is dangerous. talking on it is not that much better. Add, eating, shaving, putting on make up etc: We need to pay attention to what we are doing by watching the road and cars. I have no problem with a law defining this.
By SS Minnow July 30, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I just want to know how they would enforce such a law. Couldn’t someone just say, “I was checking the time”? I think officers should be paying attention to the road just as much as we should. It takes a lot of attention to try and look into someone’s car and watch what they’re doing.