cant txt now, driving. omg close one. lol. ttyl
Heather Driscoll Spartan Daily San Jose State U.
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Opinion
(U-WIRE) SAN JOSE, Calif. -
Or as I like to put it, "driving while texting."
It has become idiosyncratic among our generation, and though I am quite ashamed to admit it, I too am a victim, er, am guilty of this bad habit.
On Sept. 13 our governor signed a law which prohibits teens under the age of 18 from driving under the influence of electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, laptops, music players and hands-free devices beginning July 1, 2008.
First off, let me just say this: regardless of age and driving experience, if you're driving while typing or browsing on your laptop, then I denounce you as an A-class idiot who shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel.
Now that I got that off my chest, lets get back to that text message from the state of California -- you know, the one that says "put me down - thx : )"
Except the law doesn't apply to me because I'm 21 years old and a much more experienced driver than those naive teens, right?
Then again, you would think after Governor Schwarzenegger passed a law last year (also to take affect July 1) prohibiting all drivers from cell-phone use, with the exception of hands-free devices, people would get the hint that cell phones while driving are a definite "no no."
Yeah, I know. I never got that memo and neither did you.
In an article from msnbc.com, Schwarzenegger made reference to California Highway Patrol statistics, stating that cell phone use is one of the main causes of distracted-driver related accidents. He also alluded to a Ford Motor Company study that said "teens are four times more likely to be distracted than adults by cell phone use."
I agree to disagree (thanks, opinion editor Lindsay Bryant).
Combining my own meandering experience along with observations as a driver and a pedestrian, I've come to the conclusion that adults can be just as distracted by electronic devices as teens.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted a study that "tested the hands-free approach and found that drivers -- young and old -- struggled to see dangerous scenarios in front of them," according to an article on their news bureau website.
Or as I like to put it, "driving while texting."
It has become idiosyncratic among our generation, and though I am quite ashamed to admit it, I too am a victim, er, am guilty of this bad habit.
On Sept. 13 our governor signed a law which prohibits teens under the age of 18 from driving under the influence of electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, laptops, music players and hands-free devices beginning July 1, 2008.
First off, let me just say this: regardless of age and driving experience, if you're driving while typing or browsing on your laptop, then I denounce you as an A-class idiot who shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel.
Now that I got that off my chest, lets get back to that text message from the state of California -- you know, the one that says "put me down - thx : )"
Except the law doesn't apply to me because I'm 21 years old and a much more experienced driver than those naive teens, right?
Then again, you would think after Governor Schwarzenegger passed a law last year (also to take affect July 1) prohibiting all drivers from cell-phone use, with the exception of hands-free devices, people would get the hint that cell phones while driving are a definite "no no."
Yeah, I know. I never got that memo and neither did you.
In an article from msnbc.com, Schwarzenegger made reference to California Highway Patrol statistics, stating that cell phone use is one of the main causes of distracted-driver related accidents. He also alluded to a Ford Motor Company study that said "teens are four times more likely to be distracted than adults by cell phone use."
I agree to disagree (thanks, opinion editor Lindsay Bryant).
Combining my own meandering experience along with observations as a driver and a pedestrian, I've come to the conclusion that adults can be just as distracted by electronic devices as teens.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted a study that "tested the hands-free approach and found that drivers -- young and old -- struggled to see dangerous scenarios in front of them," according to an article on their news bureau website.
Be the first to comment on this story