Cuomo Introduces Texting While Driving Ban

[hrmjustin]

After pounding the state on his Tax Free program, Gov. Andrew Cuomo turned his attention to strengthening penalties for texting while driving with a new bill to increase penalties for new drivers.

In addition to the legislation released today, Cuomo is calling on the Department of Motor Vehciles to toughen penalties for all drivers when it comes to texting nad have the State Police step up enforcement with more checkpoints and patrols.

“As the father of three teenagers, I know firsthand the importance of instilling safe practices in our young drivers who are developing lifelong habits as they learn to navigate the road,” Governor Cuomo said. “Inattention and inexperience is a deadly combination – one this legislation seeks to deter. We are urging young and inexperienced drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, while putting stronger penalties in place for drivers of all ages who violate the law and put others in danger. No parent should have to experience losing a child at the hands of a text message.”

The push comes after the Senate passed a measure this week that would ban the use of hands-free devices by those with learner’s permits.

http://capitaltonightny.ynn.com/2013/05/cuomo-introduces-texting-while-driving-ban/

[Cooley Hurd]

1. If you insist on TWD, please use voice recognition...

...or just wait until you're stopped.

[hrmjustin]

2. Agreed!

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I've got my Galaxy Note trained for my voice...

...I can't remember the last time I had to type a text message. And, it's better than Siri!

[hrmjustin]

4. Looks like they are going to pass this bill. I hope others take your advice and get this device.

[Cooley Hurd]

5. It's a good bill. Normally, I'm adverse to advocating a "nanny-state" solution...

...but we had a terrible accident in Upstate NY a few years ago when the driver texted and didn't notice her car had crossed the line and into the path of an oncoming truck. All FIVE people in her car (including herself) were killed:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-14-ny-crash_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) — Text messages were sent and received on a 17-year-old driver's cellphone moments before the sport-utility vehicle slammed head-on into a truck, killing her and four other recent high school graduates, police said.

Bailey Goodman was driving her friends to her parents' vacation home when her SUV, which had just passed a car, swerved back into oncoming traffic, hit a tractor-trailer and burst into flames. Five days earlier, the five teenagers had graduated together from high school in Fairport, a Rochester suburb.

Goodman's inexperience at the wheel; evidence she was driving above the speed limit at night on a winding, two-lane highway; and a succession of calls and text messages on her phone were cited Friday by Sheriff Phil Povero as possible factors in the June 28 crash in western New York.

"The records indicate her phone was in use," Povero said. "We will never be able to clearly state that she was the one doing the text messaging. ... We all certainly know that cellphones are a distraction and could be a contributing factor in this accident."

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[hrmjustin]

6. My sister used to live in Orange Country NY and her son's friends got into an accident because

the driver was texting. He was supposed to be in the car but by luck he did not go with them. This is a terrible problem texting while driving.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

7. People don't take driving seriously enough.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Agreed. I'm a pilot and RULE #1 is ALWAYS...

...fly the airplane. Everything else is secondary. I apply that to my driving as well.

[hrmjustin]

9. This is very true!