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Proposed bill sends a simple message: Don't text and drive
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| Parent(s) |
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| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Mar 22, 2007 11:13pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | - |
| News Date | Friday, March 23, 2007 05:10:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | New Jersey Star-Ledger.
An excerpt...
"In today's high-tech world, many motorists aren't content to simply keep their eyes on the road and their thumbs on the wheel.
About one in five admits being drawn to the latest message on a BlackBerry device or mobile phone.
That's right. They're driving while texting.
"I'm ashamed to admit that I have used my BlackBerry while driving," said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester). "It's extremely dangerous. It's not the same as using a cell phone, which you can do and ... see the traffic in front of you. When you're texting, you have to take your eyes off the street entirely."
Moriarty and Assemblyman David Mayer (D-Gloucester) are sponsoring legislation (A4146) they hope will send this instant message to those who drive while texting: Get caught, and you'll pay a $250 fine.
New Jersey joins Arizona, Connecticut and Washington as the only states considering a way to block the newest electronic distraction. New Jersey is already one of just four states to outlaw hand-held cell phone use by drivers.
Traffic and wireless communication experts agree text messaging behind the wheel is dangerous, a contention backed by a 2006 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study that listed it as the most common distraction for drivers. At least 19 percent of motorists have sent a text message while on the road, according to a Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. study released in January." |
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