Lawmakers may ban texting while driving
Nope it’s not in SG… But the USA.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2622194620070327?feedType=RSS
By Jon Hurdle
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - New Jersey drivers who insist on sending
text messages on their cell phones or personal digital assistants may
find themselves on the wrong side of the law if legislators approve a
new bill.
The plan is in response to a recent Nationwide Insurance survey
finding that one in five drivers are texting while driving, a figure
that rises to about one in three among people aged 18 to 34, said
Democratic Assemblyman Paul Moriarty.
"It’s extremely dangerous," said Moriarty, one of three sponsors of
the bill. "It requires you to completely take your eyes off the road. I
see people driving down the street using both their thumbs to send a
text message, and I can only imagine they are steering with their
knees."
Drivers caught texting would be fined between $100 and $250. Similar
measures are being considered by three other states, Moriarty said.
The measure would allow police to pull over any driver found texting
while driving, a tougher approach than currently allowed under the
state’s ban on drivers using a mobile phone on the highway. Under that
law police are only allowed to stop drivers if they are also committing
another offense.
Critics have asked why the bill does not also seek to outlaw other
sources of driver-distraction such as coffee or food, but Moriarty said
such a bill would never pass the state legislature.
The bill, introduced last week, has 20 co-sponsors — both Democrats
and Republicans. It is expected to be debated in a committee during May
or June and then pass to the full Assembly and the Senate whose leaders
have indicated they are in favor, the assemblyman said.
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Even though the use of the mobile is completely banned in SG many a times, I have personally "witnessed" many people still wanna try their luck.
Sometimes, I do wonder if the authorities need help "nabbing" these people?
I wonder if the formation of the S.B.A. can help?
