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Tweeting ... texting ... talking — three activities people do a lot on pocket-sized electronic devices these days.
Some do it more than others.
Some seem to do it all the time — even when they’re driving, and that’s sometimes in between drinking a coffee or eating a Big Mac.
While data is scarce on how many accidents the use of such devices cause, it’s simply common sense that tweeting or texting or talking while you’re barreling down the road in a thousand-pound piece of equipment is a distraction. Driving is not a time for multitasking.
That’s why we support a bill being considered in the Colorado State Legislature that requires drivers to use hands-free devices while talking on their cell phones. The bill passed its first committee votes in the Colorado Senate this week.
In addition to requiring hands-free devices for adults, the bill would ban drivers younger than 18, as well as bus and taxi drivers, from talking or texting on cell phones at all.
As technology continues to advance and become more affordable, use of cellular phones and other devices is only going to continue to increase. If people are using those devices while they’re driving, they’re not giving enough attention to the main task at hand — driving.
Which is why it’s appropriate now to start cracking down on the use of those devices while driving.
Other places have done it.
A few of the states in which drivers are required to use hands-free devices include California, Connecticut and New Jersey.
In Alaska and Louisiana, drivers are banned from texting.
Violators would be fined $50 for the first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses if the law passes in Colorado.
Pay a couple fines like that, and you’ve spent what would have been enough to purchase a new hand-held device. Hopefully, that will be enough incentive for people to turn the devices off when driving a car.
That’s if the fact that “u mite kil some1” isn’t enough incentive in the first place.
Drivers should just drive.
The Grand Junction Free Press Editorial Board consists of Publisher Valerie J. Smith, Managing Editor Josh Nichols, Community News Editor Tracy Dvorak and Night Editor Steve Lysaker.
Some do it more than others.
Some seem to do it all the time — even when they’re driving, and that’s sometimes in between drinking a coffee or eating a Big Mac.
While data is scarce on how many accidents the use of such devices cause, it’s simply common sense that tweeting or texting or talking while you’re barreling down the road in a thousand-pound piece of equipment is a distraction. Driving is not a time for multitasking.
That’s why we support a bill being considered in the Colorado State Legislature that requires drivers to use hands-free devices while talking on their cell phones. The bill passed its first committee votes in the Colorado Senate this week.
In addition to requiring hands-free devices for adults, the bill would ban drivers younger than 18, as well as bus and taxi drivers, from talking or texting on cell phones at all.
As technology continues to advance and become more affordable, use of cellular phones and other devices is only going to continue to increase. If people are using those devices while they’re driving, they’re not giving enough attention to the main task at hand — driving.
Which is why it’s appropriate now to start cracking down on the use of those devices while driving.
Other places have done it.
A few of the states in which drivers are required to use hands-free devices include California, Connecticut and New Jersey.
In Alaska and Louisiana, drivers are banned from texting.
Violators would be fined $50 for the first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses if the law passes in Colorado.
Pay a couple fines like that, and you’ve spent what would have been enough to purchase a new hand-held device. Hopefully, that will be enough incentive for people to turn the devices off when driving a car.
That’s if the fact that “u mite kil some1” isn’t enough incentive in the first place.
Drivers should just drive.
The Grand Junction Free Press Editorial Board consists of Publisher Valerie J. Smith, Managing Editor Josh Nichols, Community News Editor Tracy Dvorak and Night Editor Steve Lysaker.
