Sadly, because driving an automobile has become such an ordinary everyday event, people have become insensitive to the grave responsibility of operating one on the public roads.
This is in the same category as 3' passing laws. It's a very specific law for a very specific distraction, rather than a general law to cover all distractions.
Michael's point is really important... we're nibbling around the edges of a much bigger problem when we ban this and ban that. The problem is that motorists think they don't have to pay attention. And our whole traffic culture is being built on that assumption — it's being reinforced by everything from engineering to the court system.
Chipseal, I asked this very question at a traffic justice meeting. I was told because it is too hard to prove and because the penalties are so strict, the courts won't uphold it (because, again, everyone feels empathy with the distracted driver — it's a systemic cultural problem). I think we have another designation for careless driving, but IIRC, it doesn't have much of a penalty. There isn't anything in between.
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Sadly, because driving an automobile has become such an ordinary everyday event, people have become insensitive to the grave responsibility of operating one on the public roads.
California recently banned texting while driving.
This is in the same category as 3' passing laws. It's a very specific law for a very specific distraction, rather than a general law to cover all distractions.
This ought to cover all distracted driving offences. Why is it not being enforced?
Sec. 545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE.
(a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
Michael's point is really important... we're nibbling around the edges of a much bigger problem when we ban this and ban that. The problem is that motorists think they don't have to pay attention. And our whole traffic culture is being built on that assumption — it's being reinforced by everything from engineering to the court system.
Chipseal, I asked this very question at a traffic justice meeting. I was told because it is too hard to prove and because the penalties are so strict, the courts won't uphold it (because, again, everyone feels empathy with the distracted driver — it's a systemic cultural problem). I think we have another designation for careless driving, but IIRC, it doesn't have much of a penalty. There isn't anything in between.
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