New Law in Maryland..No Texting..No Emailing While Driving! We Need to Get the Word Out!

Ok - for me this is just common sense.  How on earth can you text and drive at the same time.  Its not exactly like walking and chewing gum where each activity is not mutually exclusive.  Sorry for the sarcastic tone...but what are people thinking that we need a law to clarify this?

This is a DUH moment. Why would you do this anyway? Make no sense to me.

It's just nuts that we need laws to ensure people use common sense.  You cannot be paying attention to the road, the vehicles beside and behind you, if you're also texting a message.  Or answering or reading email.  It's just not possible.

We have had laws against using cell-phones while driving if they are not hands free, but you guessed it, a large percentage of people still use the cell phone by holding it to their ear - and I have seen driving police do this as well.  We also have laws against texting - but yes, I have seen people texting while driving - most are adults. 

The new MD law may help for a while, but enforcement is key. 

Thanks for the post!

Great law - should be enforced in EVERY state. People have a hard enough time driving without any extra distractions!

Margaret:

We have the same law.  A few weeks ago I was listening to a talk show discussing the law.  One called said that he would continue texting while driving.  He said he could drive and text at the same time and he was not a hazard to the drivers on the road.  I was shocked at how positive he was that he would not cause an accident.  He knew what he was doing and wouldn't comply with the law.  What can you do with people like that on the roads.  I hope I am never on the road with the likes of him.

Let's face it.  It ain't easy juggling the coffee, keeping one hand on the wheel, your eye on the road and texting at the same time.  I can barely keep my fat fingers on the right keys sitting still.  I might throw a fast text sitting at a traffic light, but other than that I'm hard pressed to multi task.

Ontario has similar legislation and it makes good sense.

I now put the telephone in the back seat when I'm driving, so I will no longer be tempted.

It takes about a week to break the habit, but it can be a life-saver.

Dear Margaret -

WOW -- almost 60 replies -
Must be a topic close to everyone's interest!

Good going!

Have a happy day -
Lynn

Margaret...I am on it  for tomorrow and you get honorable mentions dear lady...thank you

Ooops. Did not know that it had become a primary. When did the reading e-mail become part of the deal? To be honest I constantly still see people talking on their phone.

Margaret - Connectiuct enacted hands free legislation in 2005 and a law against texting while driving in October 2010 but I don't believe either included emailing.  I'm not sure how much it has impacted drivers here as I still constantly see people talking and texting on their phones when I'm out on the road.

Margaret - This has been a law here in CA for a few years now.  I'm surprised that more states don't.

Margaret - rules or not it just does not make sense to be texting or reading or anything else that takes your eyes off the road ..... we have similar legislation here in Ontario but you still see many doing it.

The law that forbids texting while driving has been on the books in California for over a year. Makes too much sense! I read an article in an automotive magazine that showed, by their tests, that texting while driving was worse than DWI (driving while intoxicated…not driving with incontinent…for us older folks). Frightening!

Margaret, I used to be able to text when I had my blackberry - it was easy while driving.  But now I have a Droid and there's no possible way, so I understand the law a bit better.  But we also have the no talking on the phone while driving.  REALLY?  I learned to drive in a stick-shift with no power steering... isn't that driving with one hand?  Stupid law.