As of Thursday, September 30, 2010, say goodbye to your freedom. Well, your freedom while driving, that is. Massachusetts recently passed Massachusetts House Bill 4466 aka no texting while driving. Not only can you not text while driving but you are not allowed to touch your cell phone in any way while your car is running and on a legal road, according to the details of the law. Drivers over the age of 18 are, however, able to use a hands free device.
And while this seems to make sense because of the accidents caused by people texting while driving, the ramifications and insinuations made from this law could be devastating to our freedom. This seems well in the favor of preventing accidents but think of this issue in terms of what next. Although people are often critical of this way of reasoning, in this particular case it is very pertinent because many of the things mentioned in the slippery-slope reasoning are all actual bill proposals being debated and revised in the House and Senate. These are called the “Distracted Driver” laws and they go a far way in attempting to control every little thing we do in our own cars. No texting while driving has turned into no talking on a hand held device while in a running car at all. You might as “what if I pull over and call a friend for directions?” Nope. You are illegally operating a vehicle while talking on a handheld device. The law in specific holds that you must either turn the car off or be on a road that is not legal, such as in a dirt road or such. Merely pulling over to the side of the road is not sufficient for them.
And what is next? Talking away eating while driving, drinking coffee while driving distracts people. What about talking to a passenger in your car? Isn’t that just as dangerous, if not more dangerous than talking on the phone because you turn to look at them and use your hands to gesture at them. What about having kids in the car? Is that not the most distraction while driving? Keeping them from fighting, giving them their toys and pacifiers, concentrating on the road while your two year old is screaming at the top of his lungs? And what if you’re not even distracted by something in the car but by your own thoughts and fail to break in time so you hit the car in front of you. This incident is just as dangerous as glancing at a text while stopped at a red light or in traffic. And what about GPS’s? Trying to see just which street the arrow is pointed at while driving isn’t as dangerous as talking on a cell phone?
So if Massachusetts is making a law against texting while driving what is stopping them from making a law against doing anything while driving other than hands at ten and two, eyes peeled, and ears wide open? Nothing. I say we should be able to use our judgment as adults and drive and act in our cars how we please because should we use poor judgment it is inevitably at our own fault and we will pay for it.
You bring up a good point about this being a burden on our freedom. But I do feel strongly that our technology is advancing so rapidly, it is beginning to have some negative repercussions. When cell phones were invented, at the time, I am sure people never would have dreamed of them ever being the cause of severe car accidents. It is sad to say, but it seems that the passing of this law was inevitable, and necessary.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, my roommate totaled her car last weekend because she was texting! The cops could have easily checked her phone and found that texting was the cause, but she got away clean (And luckily uninjured!) So the law may not even end up being as enforced as it should be!
You have the freedom to do whatever you want in this country... unless that freedom means taking away freedoms from other people.
ReplyDeleteTexting while driving has been proven to be dangerous. If the acts of one individual behind the wheel can kill another individual, the state has the right to try and prevent that from happening.
People should be responsible for their actions but personal accountability and the law are two different things.
Public safety is the concern of our government, and there is ample data to back up the danger of texting and talking on a cell phone (and hands-free makes little difference) while driving. Talking to a passenger is not the same, and in fact increases driver awareness with regards to traffic, hazards, volume within the vehicle, etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure a law against texting while driving will decrease the danger. In fact, I recall hearing a study that in states where there is a law, drivers will continue to text, but rather than holding the phone on the steering wheel in front, they will keep the phone in their laps therefore taking their eyes off the road for longer periods of time.