Teen drivers nationwide ignore anti-texting laws

There is a lot of stuff that goes on inside our cars these days, not just texting. Doing 65mph down the highway on the way to work one morning I realize that the car ahead of me can't see out the windshield because the driver is reading the newspaper! Another day I was behind a county sherrifs officer who was drifting back and forth across the lane and the on-coming lane. It was early in the morning and I was concerned that this was an officer who was finishing up a midnight shift and was tired. I thought about calling the station and having someone get them on the radio and talk to them till they could get in. When I pulled up beside him at a redlight I realized that he wasn't sleepy, he was typing on the laptop that was mounted on the dash. We have a local car audio installer who is now advertising that they can install your laptop into your car for easy access! Contractors and job foremen have them in their trucks so that while they are driving and talking on the phone to the jobsite (I assume) they can update the project status on their labptop which is mounted to the dash or sliding around on the center console.
The problem is not texting, or reading the paper, or putting on make-up, the problem is that as a society we do not have a health respect for the damage we can do behind the wheel and we all have the attitude that "I am a good driver and that would never happen to me." I am a proffessional driver, I am on the road all day, and I am far from perfect behind the wheel.
Until as individuals we change our perception of our abilities and our vehicles abilities, no laws are going to help this situation.
Here is some food for thought. Studies show that it takes on average 1.5 seconds for a driver to take his/her foot off the gas and cover the brake pedal, not apply pressure to the brakes-just cover the pedal from the time they see something happen in front of them. If you are travelling at 25mph in a residential neighborhood (25 X 1.47 = 36.75) then you are travelling at 36.75 feet per second. In 1.5 seconds you will travel 55.125 feet without applying the brakes. If a child chases a ball into the road in front of you while you are texting, reading the paper, playing on your computer or programming your GPS.....do you think you will kill them?
Our modern conveniences are nice and I am addicted to my phone, but being behind the wheel of a car is like walking around with a loaded gun...there is a lot of personal responsibillity involved.

sub headline should read - journalists everywhere struggle for story.

They changed the picture.

not a surprise, everybody thinks their talented enough to do both and think it wont happen to them. I would like to see the debate of changing music while driving. I have an iphone and i usually would be changing songs while driving. What type of risk is that? Not too many people acknowledge that risk... its the factor of having a phone while driving.

If the auto industry can apply a universal method to incorporate cellphones into its audio systems.... problem solved

@sumkrazyguy55

interesting you should say that.....

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/texting-is-more-dangerous-than-drivin...

I think the punishment should be as strict and harsh as drunk driving.

dont worry, voice recognition software will do text too soon.

there we go!! no more old man :)

and gender-neutral :)

This is ridiculous, it shouldn't have to be made a law. If you need to be told not to type messages to your friends while you're driving a motor vehicle, you're a fucking idiot, and I'm glad you went to prison for manslaughter.

so why is the picture of a middle aged man?

Just like I'll be ignoring the smoking ban in Michigan next year?

but i have to text my girlfriend right now!

My argument is that even while texting I still have a faster reaction time than some 75 year old person. I haven't caused an accident since I was 15 and first got my permit (9 years).

I think we just need to have much higher insurance premium hikes for people who cause accidents regardless of reason.

I wonder if you were illegally texting and cause an accident if your insurance would no longer cover you (like DUI accident). If that is the case, then I would be very worried about this legislation because you can't get money from people who don't have any (like teens who are texting).

Hey just so you know, its not just teens. I have seen older people texting while driving also.

The frustrating thing is that despite the fact there are more women on the phone and texting while driving the picture of a man is on the post. Why?

last week almost got hit by a car,because the girl was texting.

And then something very nasty happens , it's just like Drinking & Driving , nobody takes it
for what it's worth until somebody DIES !