Comments about ‘Death of USU student in Idaho points to risks of distracted driving’

What a shame. What a beautiful girl.

My concerns now turn to the other people involved. Are they okay?

People get sick and spread disease when they don't cover their mouth while coughing. There should be a law to require a covered mouth when coughing.

Where does it end? How about simply educating people on the risks of such behaviour? Is having a law really that much more effective? Why does the government need to get involved in everything?

Let the games begin.

Good to know that this girl's family are realists and admit that her distracted driving - something she often did - likely contributed to her death. My question also, how many others did she kill or maim because she did what she joked about. Using facebook or other distractions while she was driving. Importantly, why are others willingly getting into a car where the driver is obviously driving distracted? would they also share a ride with someone who was drunk or under the influence of other drugs? sad when someone makes a choice that leads not only to her or his death, but leaves so much damage in the wake.

No longer so cute when mixing facebook and driving.

Condolences to all who suffered mightily that day because someone chose the wrong.

@Truth, are you honestly trying to compare catching a cold with killing someone by your distracted driving?

I've been nearly killed on my motorcycle by a driver who was texting. A patrol car pulled along side shortly afterward and I pointed to the car and indicated that he was texting and driving. The patrol car sped ahead, followed the car for awhile, and did nothing. If texting drivers only killed themselves or damaged their own property I wouldn't care if they texted. But they kill others and damage others' property. That's why the law should be involved.

I hope nobody ever kills you or your daughter while texting and driving.

I admire the courage of her parents as they try to use their tragedy to help stem the growing tide of distracted driving. Hardly a day of driving goes by that I don't have at least one close call. And it's frequently someone holding a cell device.

Now if only we could wake up our lawmakers and pry the phones from their cold fingers.

Very sad.
Using a cell phone properly, is like using safe judgment while drinking a beer.
Yes, this like most things in life, but cell phones are more addictive than most items.

What a shame for one so young who helped others ignored the signs to help herself to stay alive. I'm sorry for the family of this young student but at the same time I'm glad to see the reality of what took her life. Cell phones and driving whether don't mix. Leave your phone in your pocket or in your purse! It's not just young people caught up texting/talking on their cell phones. I have driven behind many older people who have had to be honked at to remind them that they are in a car and not at home on their couch! Let's wise up!

It's sad that the distraction was using texting on a social network. Then comes the reality, that distractions while driving is with us every single time. A baby crying, a child yelling, children fighting, a wife or passenger did you see that, CBs, communication devices of all kinds, radio, CD player, and etc. I've driven over 1.25 million miles. I'm a human being and I make mistakes while driving. I've used CBs, Communication Radios, and Cell Phones while driving. I've never used texting while driving. That is a distraction which take your mind off your driving. Laws enacted against communication devices. Then those laws apply to all distractions. Which would also apply to law enforcement. Law enforcement are humans and also can be distracted while driving. Texting and use of laptops while driving should be enforce with very heavy fines. Learning how to keep you mind on the road is a matter teaching your mind what is number 1 while driving.

A simple solution.

Every cell phone has a GPS chip in it. This is used to gather location data and provide navigation functions. It can detect where the phone is and how rapidly it is moving.

It wouldn't be hard to write a simple bit of code that disabled all calling/texting functions (except 911) if the phone was moving faster than 20MPH or so.

Problem solved, no more distracted drivers.

What? Texting and updating your Facebook page distracts one from driving? What more needs to be said about this--don't we already know distracted driving is deadly?

I guess some folks, especially the younger people, have to learn it for themselves.

I really appreciate the response from the girl's family. Maybe the other young people who aren't listening to the obvious risks of distracted driving will be able to relate her family's message.

California has a law on the books banning the use of cell phones while driving. So what? I see it all the time. People disregard that which is inconvenient for them, and there are so many doing it that the police would be writing tickets until the cows come home, if they, cows or cops, are lucky enough not to be hit by some distracted driver.

California's law does not prohibit the use of hands-free use of cell phones, the use of which is no different than talking to another person in the same vehicle. IMHO, the NTSB went WAY overboard in recommending the restriction of all cell phone usage, except for emergencies, while driving.

Due to the fact that there is an entire industry based on wireless cell phone usage, it is unlikely to happen, in any case.

How sad and how strangely ironic about her last FB post. I'm afraid this is the world we live in now. Not much will change no matter how much anyone tries to legislate against it.

A few years ago my Brother-in-Law pulled up next to somebody with a Ban Cell Phones and Driving Bumper Sticker. That person was trying to light a cigarette and dropped, while he was trying to grab the cigarrette he nearly ran my Brother-in-Law off the road. Lesson: All distractions are potentially deadly if you allow yourself to be distracted!

@DeltaFoxtrot - so passengers cannot use their phones? Commuters on trains? C'mon, some things are up to PEOPLE, not Big Brother and technology, to solve. I think we agree that this is exactly the kind of thing government is completely within its right to regulate (driving being a regulated activity already, and distracted driving being a public hazard), there are right and wrong ways to handle it.

Such a sad story. Hopefully it opens some eyes and the story can be used to inform and save lives in the future.

When texting, an individual is twice as impaired (as DUI), the 2006 study concluded.

Certainly this is tragic. I feel for those involved.

But daily on the DN boards, people rail against alcohol.

If it really is about road safety, one should be equally, if not more concerned about texting while driving.

If this had been a drunk driving accident, there would be no sympathies.

Both are willful acts and put others in danger.

Actually, studies have shown that people are just as distracted using hand-free phones as they are using handheld cellphones. Both are more distracting than talking to a passenger, which is surprising to many. Maybe it's because a person sitting next to you has better sound quality and can see your face and body language, and you can see them in your peripheral vision. Maybe it's because we have trained ourselves all our lives to tune out our immediate surroundings while on the phone.

Talking to your passenger is distracting and can lead to an accident. Turning around to look at your kid can cause an accident. Driver Education about preventing distractions needs to be RAMPED UP and enforced by a new law!...Not by banning cell phones! I get suspicious of anyone who wants to take away my cell phone. Hell hath no fury like a Momma Grizzly who needs to call her kids for their safety who gets in her way.

@Madden: Twenty years ago nobody had cell phones, the human race somehow got by just fine without them. They have been a wonderful technological development and have enabled us to connect with eachother in ways never before imagined, but that LUXURY has cost many, many lives.

It seems obvious to me that a large percentage of people cannot be trusted to operate them in safe and responsible manner, so perhaps we should all be denied the ability to use them while on the move.

A minor inconvenience in exchange for saving lives... don't you think?

@Kellie: If you need to check on your kids while you are traveling you should pull over, make your call, then get back on the road and resume driving. I would hate to think of your family deprived of "Momma Grizzly" because you crashed the minivan while attempting to check on their safety.

I have a real issue with people who think they are somehow more important than everyone else. All of the people you share the road with every day have families. What gives you the right to endanger them by checking on the safety of your own family?

Hang up and drive people!