Kentucky drivers could soon face fines for texting and driving
Tickets for texting could reach more than $100 each
Laura Butler
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: News
"When you make something law, it becomes public knowledge," he said. "Newspapers will publish that and put it in print, and people seem to pay more attention to that. If we never try to get that legislation passed, kids won't know [how dangerous it is] until they get pulled over."
Crockett said he sees the benefits of creating a law for prohibiting texting and driving, but thinks most drivers should realize how unsafe the practice is on their own.
"Whether it's illegal or not, it's just really not in the best interest of other people," he said.
However Crockett cautioned that just because the ban on texting and driving is not formally a Kentucky state statute yet, doesn't mean drivers won't still be pulled over if caught doing so.
"Under the current law, the way it's written, that (sending text messages while driving) actually would fit the statute of careless driving," he said.
Crockett said he feels most drivers would realize the many dangers for themselves and other passers-by alike if they would take more time to analyze their driving habits. Driver inattention is one of the main reasons for all collisions, he said.
"People need to think a little bit about what could happen," he said. "It's just like what we tell people when they decide to drink and drive. If you would just take a second to think before you do it, maybe you wouldn't do it."
Crockett recommended drivers ask a passenger respond to their text messages, or waiting until the car is stopped to view or send a message.
If it's something you absolutely feel you have to do, pull over and finish your texting before you get back on the road," he said. "If you're going to drive a motor vehicle you have to use precautions. It's like wearing your seatbelt and stopping at stop signs, I think not texting is right along those lines. I think that's common sense.
Nathan Reeves, a junior fire and safety major from Independence, Ky., said he recognizes the risk associated with texting and driving, but doesn't plan to quit.
"I think it's really dangerous but I do it all the time," he said. "I think it would be a safe law, but it would be hard to enforce."
Senior music education major from Cincinnati, Angela Parsons, said she never texts while driving.
"You have to sit and stare at the phone and you don't pay attention to what's going on on the road," she said. "It's serious ... you're endangering you life and other people's lives."
A presidential summit is being planned in Washington D.C. for the end of September to discuss the issue further, but for now, lawmakers and citizens are still debating the ALERT Act and state laws surrounding texting and driving,
Crockett said he sees the benefits of creating a law for prohibiting texting and driving, but thinks most drivers should realize how unsafe the practice is on their own.
"Whether it's illegal or not, it's just really not in the best interest of other people," he said.
However Crockett cautioned that just because the ban on texting and driving is not formally a Kentucky state statute yet, doesn't mean drivers won't still be pulled over if caught doing so.
"Under the current law, the way it's written, that (sending text messages while driving) actually would fit the statute of careless driving," he said.
Crockett said he feels most drivers would realize the many dangers for themselves and other passers-by alike if they would take more time to analyze their driving habits. Driver inattention is one of the main reasons for all collisions, he said.
"People need to think a little bit about what could happen," he said. "It's just like what we tell people when they decide to drink and drive. If you would just take a second to think before you do it, maybe you wouldn't do it."
Crockett recommended drivers ask a passenger respond to their text messages, or waiting until the car is stopped to view or send a message.
If it's something you absolutely feel you have to do, pull over and finish your texting before you get back on the road," he said. "If you're going to drive a motor vehicle you have to use precautions. It's like wearing your seatbelt and stopping at stop signs, I think not texting is right along those lines. I think that's common sense.
Nathan Reeves, a junior fire and safety major from Independence, Ky., said he recognizes the risk associated with texting and driving, but doesn't plan to quit.
"I think it's really dangerous but I do it all the time," he said. "I think it would be a safe law, but it would be hard to enforce."
Senior music education major from Cincinnati, Angela Parsons, said she never texts while driving.
"You have to sit and stare at the phone and you don't pay attention to what's going on on the road," she said. "It's serious ... you're endangering you life and other people's lives."
A presidential summit is being planned in Washington D.C. for the end of September to discuss the issue further, but for now, lawmakers and citizens are still debating the ALERT Act and state laws surrounding texting and driving,
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
heather
posted 9/18/09 @ 5:06 PM EST
I fully agree with this law.. I cannot stand when people text and drive. Go ahead an endanger yourselves, but you don't have to endanger the rest of us too. (Continued…)
Jonathan
posted 9/25/09 @ 3:11 PM EST
I'll stop texting and talking on the phone and driving when people stop eating and drinking while drive. You know why European cars only have one or two cup holders (and some don't even like having that many)? Because in Europe, cars are used for driving, not a mobile dinning room like most Americans use them. (Continued…)
Mason_Brock29
posted 9/30/09 @ 3:19 PM EST
You don't have to take your eyes off the road to eat.
Anyway, what would qualify as "eating"? Having a mint in your mouth? I think texting and eating need to be judged on a case by case basis. (Continued…)
Jonathan
posted 10/01/09 @ 10:42 AM EST
It's not that you take your eyes off the road (which you do) it's that fact that it is as much a distraction as texting. Sure listening to the radio can be called a distraction, but you're not using your hands to listen. (Continued…)
Mason Brock
posted 10/01/09 @ 3:30 PM EST
If we are going to follow the logic that anything which takes a hand to use should be banned while driving, then we have to ban changing the radio station, lowering sun visors, and use of cup holders. (Continued…)
Patrick
posted 10/08/09 @ 12:59 AM EST
What about the use of cell phones in general? If they're going to ban texting while operating a motor vehicle why not ban cell phone use? It should only be legal if you're using a Bluetooth device. (Continued…)
Anon
posted 10/08/09 @ 5:16 PM EST
Reaction times while texting (according to a recent study) were reduced by 35%, compared to 12% when above legal alcohol limit, and 25% while under the influence of pot. (Continued…)
Mason Brock
posted 10/09/09 @ 3:47 PM EST
cft: I concede that things that are inherently dangerous (e.g. that require that you take your eyes off the road, get out of your seat, ect) have reason to be preemptively banned. (Continued…)
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