Comments on: No Mre Txting N Drvng? http://donklephant.com/2009/07/29/no-mre-txting-n-drvng/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jay http://donklephant.com/2009/07/29/no-mre-txting-n-drvng/comment-page-1/#comment-528602 Jay Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:36:07 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=15922#comment-528602 I’m with KK on this one. I hate nanny-laws. But texting while driving is just… there’s really no words to how dumb and dangerous it really is. I TRIED it once. I think I covered about 8 lanes in about 10 seconds. Never again. Obviously my situation was a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s no way that everyone can do this even remotely close to safely. The penalty should be stiff. I’m with KK on this one. I hate nanny-laws. But texting while driving is just… there’s really no words to how dumb and dangerous it really is. I TRIED it once. I think I covered about 8 lanes in about 10 seconds. Never again. Obviously my situation was a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s no way that everyone can do this even remotely close to safely. The penalty should be stiff.

]]> By: kranky kritter http://donklephant.com/2009/07/29/no-mre-txting-n-drvng/comment-page-1/#comment-527808 kranky kritter Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:02:51 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=15922#comment-527808 Texting while driving is a dumb and dangerous thing to do. Studies have even shown that simply talking on the phone while driving, hands free or no, increases the chance of an accident. Yet Americans blithely persist in doing these things anyway. So when laws are passed against such things, claims of nanny-statism in these cases ring awfully hollow. After all, as one who is often willing to complain about nanny-statism, I know that a big part of that argument involves believing that people can handle their own affairs better than the government can. But the available data in these cases shows that they really can't. Instead, it shows that people will do what's best for them at the moment even if they're risking the safety of other drivers. Almost everyone does it, and we talk ourselves into it with a little "I'm sure it will be fine." That's if we even acknowledge the bumped up risk. It's what we do, folks. Texting while driving is a dumb and dangerous thing to do. Studies have even shown that simply talking on the phone while driving, hands free or no, increases the chance of an accident.

Yet Americans blithely persist in doing these things anyway. So when laws are passed against such things, claims of nanny-statism in these cases ring awfully hollow. After all, as one who is often willing to complain about nanny-statism, I know that a big part of that argument involves believing that people can handle their own affairs better than the government can. But the available data in these cases shows that they really can’t. Instead, it shows that people will do what’s best for them at the moment even if they’re risking the safety of other drivers.

Almost everyone does it, and we talk ourselves into it with a little “I’m sure it will be fine.” That’s if we even acknowledge the bumped up risk. It’s what we do, folks.

]]> By: Bob Morris http://donklephant.com/2009/07/29/no-mre-txting-n-drvng/comment-page-1/#comment-527226 Bob Morris Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:30:44 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=15922#comment-527226 While I support the intention of the law, I have never liked the practice of Congress strong-arming states into passing laws by holding up funding. That being said, the fact the legislation is being debated may convince more states to pass such legislation, should the federal legislation not pass. Perhaps a question to be asked is how many states that do not have such a law on the books, have seen efforts to get one passed. While I support the intention of the law, I have never liked the practice of Congress strong-arming states into passing laws by holding up funding.

That being said, the fact the legislation is being debated may convince more states to pass such legislation, should the federal legislation not pass.

Perhaps a question to be asked is how many states that do not have such a law on the books, have seen efforts to get one passed.

]]> By: Aaron http://donklephant.com/2009/07/29/no-mre-txting-n-drvng/comment-page-1/#comment-527200 Aaron Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:36:44 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=15922#comment-527200 As someone who must be on-call for work, and often must deal with emergency calls while driving, I totally agree with this bill. I installed a handsfree kit in my car for talking, and honestly that's the most I'm willing to do in a car. I'd ignore calls otherwise. As someone who must be on-call for work, and often must deal with emergency calls while driving, I totally agree with this bill. I installed a handsfree kit in my car for talking, and honestly that’s the most I’m willing to do in a car. I’d ignore calls otherwise.

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