Comments about ‘In our opinion: Texting while driving often proves to be a deadly combination’

We already have a law for this. Reckless driving and manslaughter. NO MORE LAWS!

Texting while driving is a preventable offence that would require no enforcement, not tax money, and no more deaths due to texting while driving.

It would, however, require a new business regulation that the cell phone companies not accept texting from a moving cell phone.

Are we so adverse to government regulation that we would rather allow the murder of citizens rather than have a new regulation and lose a little bit more of our freedom?

The advent of the automobile was one of the greatest creator of freedom we have. Can we give back some of that freedom to save lives?

Perhaps we should make the cell phone company liable for all texting in vehicles. If they had to pay the penalty for unlawful texting, maybe they would fix the problem.

If I leave a loaded gun where a child could use the gun to kill someone, am I not the guilty person?

Re: Ultra Bob Cottonwood Heights, UT
"Perhaps we should make the cell phone company liable for all texting in vehicles. If they had to pay the penalty for unlawful texting, maybe they would fix the problem."

Perhaps we should make Ford Motor Company responsible for all DUI deaths caused by drunken drivers using one of their vehicles. More rational minds understand why that idea makes no sense.

Rifleman said:
"Perhaps we should make the cell phone company liable for all texting in vehicles. If they had to pay the penalty for unlawful texting, maybe they would fix the problem."

Funny you say that, Since they hold bars and restaurants liable for serving alcohol to those caught Driving drunk.

Well, how about a compromise?

If someone is caught texting while driving, accident or not, an additional penalty is to have their cell phone texting capability de-activated while in motion for some period of time (1 year perhaps?)

There is usually a reasonable middle ground if someone is inclined to seek one.

Until the loved ones of a high-up government official (or, in Utah, a high-up LDS Church official) are maimed or killed, nothing will happen.

Ultra Bob:
[It would, however, require a new business regulation that the cell phone companies not accept texting from a moving cell phone.]

What a pointless suggestion. Many people are moving while using a MOBILE phone. People riding trains/buses, passengers in cars, people on airplanes, etc.

Besides, how would you even define moving? You really don't seem to understand how the technology works.

@Mukkake.

While I don’t know a lot about cell phones, I have heard that using something called GPS a persons cell phone can be tracked very accurately. Movement would be indicated as a constantly changing location reported by the GPS.

My first thought was they could use the Doppler effect. That’s the effect that movement has on a radio signal.

Since my level of technology is about 15 years old, there may even be better ways to detect the motion of a transmission.

The point is, if a crime could be prevented with out laws, enforcement, courts, penalties and such why not take the easy way.

Regards drunk driving, all the laws, enforcement and penalties doesn’t seem to stop drunk drivers and people dying because of it.

If the republicans don’t block the loss of freedom for drunk drivers, you just may see technology making it impossible for a person to drive drunk. My grandchild, when recovering from alcohol addiction, had a mandatory device on her car that would not allow the car to start or continue running if her breath didn’t come up clean.

Answers are there, all we have to do is become serious about finding them.

The headline says 'texting while driving often proves to be a deadly combination'. Really? Often? What does that mean? I would wager (yes, I do that) that more than a quarter of the people on the nations' roads text at least once a day while driving. And don't get me wrong, they're idiots, the lot of 'em. I wish that absolutely no one texted while driving. However, at the same time, they do not 'often' cause fatalities. Statistically, they're at best an elevated risk probably surpassing moose encounters but far below fatalities that result from failure to wear seatbelts. I feel for those who lose a loved one to any preventable cause but we need to keep it in perspective. And before 'somebody oughtta make a law', somebody probably already has.

Texting aside, why was this guy driving in the first place. With his history of violations over the past decade he shouldn't even have a drivers license, let alone access to a vehicle.

Ultra Bob:
[While I don’t know a lot about cell phones, I have heard that using something called GPS a persons cell phone can be tracked very accurately. Movement would be indicated as a constantly changing location reported by the GPS.]

I often turn off my GPS if I'm not using it to conserve battery life, as do many. So your idea falls apart there.

[My first thought was they could use the Doppler effect. That’s the effect that movement has on a radio signal]

What about the effect of switching towers, briefly losing signal, etc.? I have software on my phone to locate family/friends, if they turn off GPS the accuracy can be about a half-mile radius.

Also, what is "movement" still? Does it matter what direction, speed, etc.? If I slow my car to 15 MPH and disrupt traffic will I then be able to get through the movement filter?

Fact is, you idea is still a horrible and impracticable one.

You can tell how well this carefully this editorial was written by reading the title. "In our Opinion: Texting and Driving are a Deadly Combination." Are there people that think it's safe? Do these people have an IQ above 10? I think most people know it's dangerous they just choose to live with the risk.