Texting ban for S.C. drivers advances

[ccharles000]

State Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, once an outspoken opponent of strong state highway-safety laws, Wednesday made a stunning announcement:

He was wrong to oppose a tougher seat belt law in 2004 and 2005. And this year, Knotts said, he will push a measure to ban both cell phone texting and use of hand-held cell phones by motorists.

"I was wrong," Knotts said during a Senate subcommittee meeting, saying he now is convinced the 2005 law that requires all South Carolinians to wear seat belts, which he fought so hard against, is saving lives.

And Knotts - known for his libertarian, anti-regulation views - said Wednesday he does not want to be wrong on cell phone use by motorists, calling it a deadly distraction.

"Using a cell phone . . . it takes your mind off your driving. It puts you in a position where you can hurt or injure other people," Knotts said.

Two weeks ago, a woman who evidence showed was using a cell phone, pleaded guilty in state court to reckless driving in the death of two bicyclists in Lancaster County.

http://www.thestate.com/politics/story/1151220.html

[vadawg]

1. as much as i hate big government and the nanny state, i hate the texters worse

the number of accidents i see due to people texting drives me nuts...

[Orsino]

3. Yeah. This specific restriction seems like a no-brainer.

Even a state legislature ought to be able to get its collective ass in gear to pass this, as I foresee little corporate opposition.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Voice recognition software has been around since the dawn of

Microsoft.. well almost, and if the handheld cannot handle the computing power required to do it, let the server on the other end do it. Set the crap up without a keyboard, just a mike... and let people figure out how to use it.