Ban Text Driving

Forget DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) -- What About Driving While Text Messaging?

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

On my morning and evening commute I have noticed more and more drivers being distracted by their cell phones, and often it looks like by text messages! Are these drivers crazy!? They are putting me, other drivers and themselves at risk! Shouldn't something be done?

Sincerely,

Concerned Driver 

A:

Dear Concerned Driver,

You are completely right -- these drivers are crazy! Something can, and should, be done to prevent this dangerous risk. 

If cell phone use in cars is going to be banned then it makes perfect sense that text messaging in cars -- as well as smoking in cars be banned, too. Using your hands and eyes for anything but driving, while driving, is dangerous -- whether you're text messaging, reading a text message, smoking, lighting a cigarette, putting a cigarette out and holding a cigarette while driving, are all impediments to safe driving the same way that dialing, answering, talking on a phone, and holding a phone during driving, are impediments to safe driving.

If seat belt use is a law -- and it is in most states -- then it makes sense, again, that text messaging, cell phoning, and cigarette smoking be legally banned while driving -- for safety reasons. Wearing a seat belt is a law in many states because it makes drivers safe. Not text messaging, cell phoning or smoking while driving should also be a law because it, too, makes drivers safer.

If people want to text message, they can pull over and do so while the car is in park in a parking space. They can cell phone the same way. They can smoke in their homes.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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