This is Why US is Law-Heavy

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Registered: 03-26-2003
This is Why US is Law-Heavy
1
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 8:38am
Americans must be some of the most arrogant and ignorant people on earth. Ignorant because they do things that endanger themselves and others; arrogant because they believe they have the God-given right to do so.

 


Only an utter fool believes he can type and drive at the same time. Most people can't even safely talk and drive at the same time. Many's the person I've been behind on the freeway (speed limit of 70) and they're tootling along at 40 and chatting on the phone completely oblivious to the world whizzing by them. 

 


Hand some of these people a new gadget and they don't have the common sense God gave a goat to use that gadget with some descretion and responsibility. And so, because people are so unable to restrain themselves and police their own behavior, we have to create laws and laws and more laws. 

 


18 states have passed laws making texting and driving illegal. That sounds like the stupidest law because you would think anyone with basic level intelligence would know that it's impossible to type and safely drive at the same time. Yet, we have to make a law because no one is willing to control themselves. 

 


It amazes me when I hear comments like "we want less government" but at the same time we're a country that can't seem to get along unless the government controls our actions. Maybe if we learned to control ourselves there wouldn't be the need for so much government interference in our lives.

 


 
Nearly 6,000 deaths in US from driver distraction

By KEN THOMAS







 



WASHINGTON

Nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in U.S. auto accidents due to drivers being distracted, particularly by mobile phones, the government said Wednesday.


The Transportation Department brought together experts for a two-day "distracted driving summit" on highway hazards caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting from behind the wheel. Secretary Ray LaHood was expected Thursday to offer recommendations that could lead to new restrictions on using the devices while driving.


LaHood said he wanted the meeting of government officials, safety advocates, researchers and lawmakers to set "the stage for finding ways to eliminate texting while driving."


"You see people texting and driving and using cell phones and driving everywhere you go, even in places where it's outlawed, like Washington, D.C. We feel a very strong obligation to point to incidents where people have been killed or where serious injury has occurred," LaHood said.


Hours before the start of the meeting, Transportation officials said in a report that 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured last year in crashes where at least one form of driver distraction was reported. Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes in 2008.


The meeting was to hear warnings from young adults who caused accidents because they were texting while driving. Most accidents caused by driving distraction involved drivers aged 20 and under. And of all accidents involving drivers of that age group, 16 percent were reported to have been distracted, the government said.


Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws making texting while driving illegal, and seven states and the district have banned driving while talking on a handheld cell phone, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Many safety groups have urged a nationwide ban on texting and on using handheld mobile devices while behind the wheel.


In July, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about six times in cars and trucks.


The Virginia Tech researchers found the risks of texting generally applied to all drivers, not just truckers. A separate report by Car and Driver magazine found that texting and driving is more dangerous than drunken driving.


http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9B1JD900.htm


 

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Registered: 03-09-2001
Wed, 09-30-2009 - 11:03am
Oh, I agree. The steady dumbing down that has led to the gradual obsolescence of such concepts (and abilities) as common sense and self-responsibility, has resulted in such "nanny laws." There's always some excuse or rationionalization. Or the arrogant attitude of being "special" and therefore, and an "exception, " There's also a growing disregard and disrespect for following the laws. I see it with drivers every day on city streets. Stop signs now mean go slow then tromp on the accelerator like it's a freeway on-ramp. Also using stop lights the same way, to make right turns -- nearly running over pedestrians who have the walk light to cross the street! I see these type drivers every day. They appear to have both hands on the steering wheel, and appear to not be on the phone, at least their mouths aren't jabbering to thin air while driving. Yet they apparently either left their brains at home or are on auto pilot and not paying attention for whatever reason they deem more important. Shrug. Take the damn bus, idiots!


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