Virginia to Ban Text Messaging and Driving
by Steve
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Last Wednesday, a Virginia legislator submitted a bill to ban text-messaging while driving a car
House Bill 39 would add the following text to its laws...
§ 46.2-1078.1. Use of certain wireless telecommunications devices for text messaging prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any wireless telecommunications device for the purpose of sending, receiving, or reading any text message.
Interestingly, the Commonwealth has not been able to ban cellphone use while driving, at least not for adult drivers, but will now try to ban text-messaging instead.
The good news for drivers is that this bill still allows them to use their iPhones to snap photographs, send them to their buddies, download e-mail, browse the web, and get sports scores, all while driving their cars.
Labels: Cell Phones, Virginia Motorcycle Legislation
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Cell Phones Don't Kill Bikers
by Steve
Thursday, October 26, 2006
It seems almost every biker I've met has something nasty to say about people who drive cars while using a cell phone. Their inclination is to ban the use of cell phones in cars. Why?
Most bikers I've ridden with do things that are unsafe, like riding faster than the posted speed limit, not using their turn signals to make a lane change, or trying to beat out a red light. I believe that ALL bikers have done this, myself included. What gives us the right to complain that cell phone drivers are unsafe?
The fact is that cell phones don't kill bikers. People kill bikers. Don't people also say that about guns, when someone wants to ban guns?
The fact is that bikers can break traffic laws because they have confidence in their ability to ride safely. I have a friend who frequently rides his bike well over the posted speed limit, even after having a couple of beers, and then curses a cager for using a cell phone. Does that make any sense?
Don't target everyone who uses a cell phone, target only the people that can't drive safely. If you can drive a car safely, even if using a cell phone at the same time, you should be allowed to do so. The same goes for riding at whatever speed you think is comfortable, as well as deciding how many beers you can drink without compromising your skills.
Give everyone the freedom to choose and the opportunity to prove themselves capable. Don't come up with laws that dump everyone into the same bucket.
Otherwise, if you're going to take cell phones away from cagers, then don't complain when cagers put helmets on our heads.
Labels: Cell Phones
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