Texting and Driving!

Some people think that it is alright to text and drive while others don't. I agree that it is not safe to do. Even if you have one hand on the wheel your eyes will still be on and off the road and in that split second that your eyes are off the road the worst could happen. Your hands should always be on the wheel and your eyes should be focused on the road. By keeping focus on the road, you help save your own life and lives of others everyday.

Add Rhode Island to the list!

I hate seeing people texting and driving! I'm so happy that states are taking action on this. Rhode Island, along with 28 other states have noticed the danger in this act. Honestly whats the point in texting and driving? Just like texting in class, aren't you supposed to be learning? Driving is supposed to be strictly limited to driving.
This concern was brought upon Rhode Island in November of 2009. Just like my state, Massachusetts, all drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using their cellphone. This is such a great law. Kids are new drivAers and need to learn how to drive without the distraction of a cell phone. All drivers are under the same law of no texting and driving! Is a text really worth a life? My favorite law that Rhode Island enforces is no talking unless you have ONE headset in your ear. If you are caught talking it cost you a $100 fine. I wish Rhode Island would make a law saying their is no cell phone use allowed at all, but I guess only time will tell what happens with that one. Just remember its not where your hands are, its where your mind is!

Of Texting and Driving, Maine’s Regulations, and frightening PSAs.

Ah, PSAs- those advertisements meant to warn you about/against an epidemic- be it illness or social problem-- in hopes of saving your life. While created to raise awareness in the hopes of benefiting public interest, many- not all, but a lot- of PSAs don’t rile the public up enough to make a major change: much like a campaign ad! .~.

BUT- I’m digressing. This PSA was released in the UK in 2009 to warn of the dangers of texting and driving. This visually striking ad chronicles a girl texting her friend about a boy and what occurs while her eyes are off the road. It is purportedly based off of an actual incident and caused uproars in British High Schools- as it was meant to! WARNING: NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH OR YOUNG CHILDREN. (Yes- it’s that graphic- and convincing). Recommended for all others to watch.

As of late, I have been researching Maine’s driving laws in regards to cell phone usage. I have found two immediate bills:

1.) “Senate Bill 15” AKA the "Failure to Maintain Control of a Motor Vehicle Law”, was signed by the Governor John Baldacci in June 2009. “According to the new law, a driver fails to maintain control of a vehicle if they are engaging in activities that are not necessary to the operation of the vehicle, or that impair the ability of the person to safely operate the vehicle.”

It also institutes a 3-step graduated license system:

• Learner’s Permit
• Intermediate License
• Unrestricted license

Driver’s ed. can be started at the age of 14 and 9 months. After its completion, at the minimum age of 15, a teen may obtain their learner’s permit. A permit is to be held for 6 months at which point the driver can receive their intermediate license. The intermediate license is also held for 6 months. At the age of 16 an unrestricted license may be obtained.

2.) “LD 1439” AKA “An Act to Protect Young Drivers and Passengers” prohibits the use of a cell phone by drivers with a learner’s permit and an intermediate driver’s license. This includes hands-free devices.

Another bill entitled “HP 143” was enacted in 2007, but then voted down earlier this year. It prohibited a minor from using a cell or other electronic device (games, e-mail, and texting) while driving, regardless by which license is held by the driver.

I strongly believe that the government should not get involved in the regulation of texting and driving more than it already has. That’s what our communities are for. Local communities should take the initiative to speak out against texting and driving. And PSAs like the one from the UK should be created and seen and talked about more often.

Massachsetts Law of Texting While Driving

The new law prohibits all drivers from texting while behind the wheel and bans use of cell phones by drivers who are the age of 16 and 17 years old. Fines for adults: $100 (first offense), then $250 and $500. Fines for drivers under 18: $100 plus 60 day license suspension and youth traffic school (first offense), then $250 with six- month suspension and then $500 with a one year suspension. Tickets are not moving violations and do not affect insurance premiums. Never text while driving because you can get a serious injury. "Driving while texting or using a cell phone carelessly is seriously unsafe", Gov. Patrick said in a statement. Nearly nine in 10 teenage drivers have engaged in distracted-driving behaviors such as texting or talking on a cellphone although most of them know that their actions increase their risk of crashing, a new survey finds.

Sooo New Hampshire is TOTALLY against texting and driving!

As of January 1st, New Hampshire joined Oregon, Illinois, and the other dozen states to ban texting and driving while operating a motor vehicle. The law also bans tweeting, typing on a laptop, or electronic devices while driving. Yes that means you can't jimmy with your ipod while driving to change the song playing! An operator under the age of 18 will lose their license for 60 days, receive a $100 fine, and that will be the least of their worries by the time it's all said and done. Insurance will skyrocket for the offender, and more expenses will definitely come along because of the attitude course that is required to get the license back. For over 18 drivers there's a $100 fine issued and the fine can go up to $500 based on how many prior offenses that have been committed. If you're over the age of 18, a ticket is very difficult to be issued on the grounds that the officer can't be sure if a phone call is being made or a text message being sent. Texting and driving contributes to 23% of accidents and it's the most likely cause of death to teenagers, especially ones that still text and drive anyway.

Don't mess with Rhode Island!!!

Over the past few years texting has become a phenomenon all over the world, but it seems to be most prominent in teens and young adults. Recent studies done by AAA have shown that almost 46% of teens admit to texting while driving. Texting while driving has also been shown to be more dangerous than drunk driving. Now if you like to text while driving you should stay away from Rhode Island. Rhode Island wants to keep its people alive! The police all over the state are cracking down on anyone who is performing this dangerous act of stupidity. The fines are crazy for getting caught first offense $85, second offense $100, third Offense $120. If you are a minor the fines are a lot heavier and will end up getting your license suspended. Rhode Island has good reasons for doing this, almost 2000 people die of texting while driving in the U.S. alone.

Texting While Driving

Texting while driving needs to stop. The amount of young Americans that text while driving is ridiculous, they to need stop and think. It’s not where your hands are, it’s where your head is. Your hands could be on the wheel but without your concentration on the road and your eyes to see were your going your endangering your life and everyone around you. Don’t endanger anyone else’s life because you don’t mind endangering yours.

In the state of Connecticut texting is outlawed. The fines go from $100 to $150 to $200 but that’s only for hand held cell phones. Adults 18 and older must use hands-free devices while talking on cell phones or using a “mobile electronic device.” Minors are prohibited from using wireless phones or other mobile electronic device while driving- with or without hands-free devices. If you’re a school bus driver in the state of Connecticut, you are not allowed to use your cell phone at all.

Do you text? Do you text while driving? Do you support the new laws? You should read up on all that cell phones cause. Look at the statistics, click the link below. Are you a smart driver? Think before you act. Do the right thing, not just for you but for everyone else. Don’t be a statistic, prevent an accident and save a life.

http://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cell-phone/statistics.html

Texting in Rhode Island

On Nov. 10, 2009, Rhode Island pasted a ban on texting and driving. It was the 19th state to pass a texting law. Texting and driving is the number one cause of teen death. Even though I don't text, I believe that it is extremely dangerous to text and drive. It can cause drivers to lose focus of what there doing and get in an accident.This law will help put driver's eyes back on the road where they should be.

The Laws:
It states that no one can text and drive. It also says that everyone under 18 can't us a cell phone at all but everyone 18 and older can make only phone calls when they drive.

Fines:
1st offense:$85
2nd offense: $100
3rd offense: $125

Here is the Providence Journal news article about texting in RI
http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/11/governor-signs-text-messaging.html

Massachusetts driver's and texting

Over a million texts are sent out daily from all over the world. Texting is the new way for people to talk to others, work, and even socialize but texting isn’t all that great. Over 6000 people yearly die from car accidents where people were texting and driving or talking on the phone and driving. Do you text and drive? Over 50% of people admit they do but what they don’t realize is how dangerous it is. You may think you’re one of the many few who can multitask while driving but what if something does happen. You are not only risking your own life but risking someone else’s life. In 2010 Massachusetts has finally made laws against texting. Nobody in Massachusetts is allowed to text while operating a vehicle. Anyone under the age of 18 is not allowed to talk on the phone while operating a vehicle. If over the age of 18 you are allowed but should have a hands free device while talking. By following these simple rules you can save a life. Quite a few people may think these rules are stupid but what if you or a loved one died from someone else texting and driving.You should read a few stories about people dying from texting accidents and maybe it will make you realize how dangerous it really is.

Texting while driving

Did you know Rhode Island is the 19th state to ban texting while driving? It has become a major cause in teen accidents. Just one text message forces you to look away and in that second anything could happen. You might think "It wont happen to me" or "im good at texting while driving", thats not always the case. If you text while drive you could get a $100 fine. If you are under age 18 you will have your license suspended for 60 days. There are much more serious things that could also happen. You could take away the life of other drivers on the road or even yourself. Hands free devices are recommended. If you need to text and/or call in an emergency, you should pull over. It is a much safer decision. Whatever you choose to do, i hope its the right choice.

"Distracted Driving Laws" They do exist in Maine!

So it's clear to me that almost everyone in this world thinks texting while driving is worth it. Well guess what? It's not at all. People are getting killed because of this and it needs to stop now! Maine now has the "distracted driving" laws. Maine's cell phone law was enacted in 2003. The reason and point of these laws is to get people to stop doing what they are doing. Texting while driving or even just answering a phone call is very dangerous. Not only are you risking your life but you're also risking the life of everyone else around you. A lot of innocent people are dying from it. Do you know anyone who texts while driving? Do you try to get them to stop? I bet you didn't know that there has been 12,000 crashes each year due to distracted driving. That is absolutely ridiculous. Maine sets fines up to $500 for distracted driving. Distracted driving means doing something that is unnecessary while driving. A phone call or a text is not worth someones life!

Texting and Driving in RI

Did you know that in RI it is illegal to use your phone while driving? As of January 22, 2010 it was illegal. This is all because more and more fatal car accidents are happening. Texting while driving is a huge distraction to everyone that is doing it. If you text and drive you might not only hurt yourself but others around you. Since 1999 the Pawtucket Democrat has been trying to band hand held cell phones. But now research has shown even when you are using a Bluetooth, its distracting.
This morning I watched a commercial for a funeral home, it was about texting and driving. It said "if you text and drive, ill see you soon."

Connecticut has Laws! (Seriously!)

Did you know that 34% of teens admit to texting while they drive? If you happen to be a part of that statistic, you may want to avoid driving in Connecticut. Now, while being 23 times more likely to get in an accident may not scare most of you careful texters out there, this new Connecticut law will ban reading, typing, and sending text messages while you drive. Unfortunately, trying to drive, text, and check around for cops simultaneously can be a bit tough at times. And if you fail, you'll end up getting your license suspended if you're under 18 and you'll have to pay a $125 restoration fee to get it back when your suspension ends, which can range from 30 days on your first offense to until you turn 18 on your second offense. It's definitely pretty harsh, especially considering text messaging only accounts for about 200,000 accidents a year. When you do turn 18, you can't even talk on your physical phone; you'll have to purchase one of those geeky bluetooth headsets or use some other hands-free accessory. If you prevent your urges and aren't confident of your driving skills, there are several apps that disable texting on your phone if you are moving at a speed greater than 10 miles an hour. Currently, there are 29 states that restrict cell phone usage for either novice or all drivers. You better watch out when you drive, because with this new generation growing up without properly learning how to text and drive, we may see a record wave of car accidents.

Massachusetts and Texting

Did you guys know that it is now illegal to text and drive in Massachusetts? Well it is now! As of September 30th, this law has taken affect for all of Massachusetts. So, that means if you are caught texting while driving in Massachusetts, then you will get up to a $500 fine depending on how many times you have been caught. You could possibly end up in jail! If you are under 18 you can't use your phone at all while driving but if you are 18 or older then you can use your phone driving but can't text. So, i just wanted to say.....DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!!!