A Deadly Addiction or: How I Learned to Stop Texting + Driving and Learned to Be Safe (in Vermont)

Are there problems enforcing this no texting-while-driving policy? What 'drives' people to do it?

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!

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!!!!!