In my opinion, I think more people text because they don't want to be seen talking on the phone (easier to hide the phone on the steering wheel then to have a phone on the ear). If they allowed talking on the phone, and really cracked down on texting, I think it will help lower the accidents.

I think this law was a long time coming. There is just NO excuse to be sending or reading texts while driving. Heck most people don't even need to be on the phone while driving as much as is done. Like seat belt & drunk driving laws I think this will help to reduce the number of accidents in the long run.

I just saw someone texting while driving yesterday on RT 70!! No! There should be a major crackdown on all texting and talking while driving!! It's technically against the law but noone cares. I guess people have to experience tragedy first to get it into their empty heads before things change...

Hi Lastnamenottrump, that is an interesting idea and given that a lot of cell phones have GPS it should be no problem to calculate if the phone is in a moving car, I think they would have to make an exception for 911 calls or if a handless device is being used.

Lets hope they Enforce this law against texting; the police have not enforced the against the use of cell phones while driving. PLEASE ENFORCE BOTH - look at the revenue it could produce!!!

I think both the use of a cell without a handsfree device and texting should be enforced more. Unfortunately I see cops doing the same while driving everyday which there should also be a penalty against

Texting is definitely dangerous because people need to look at what they are entering. It should be banned. Using a cell phone is another matter. Is it much different than using a CB radio as was popular a few years back? If distraction is the concern, what about tuning a radio in a car? Or inserting a CD? How about lighting up a cigarette? Aren't these all distractions? How about when you look in your rear view mirror and see the gal behind you putting on her makeup? As what was once said, you cannot legislate against stupidity. Having yet another law will not catch all the offenders. What we all need to acquire is a good dose of common sense.

There was an older man who was talking on his phone on Chambers Bridge Road and the light turned red-the one right at the police station- and he wasnt paying attention and stopped half way through the light in the middle of the intersection. Then he backed up his car, while still talking on the phone of course. Now I am watching this happen and see a police car at the light-and I am thinking- Great! This guy is going to get a ticket! What happened? Well since the cop was talking on his own phone- he didnt see this guy and pulled away when the light turned green! I amolst died! I couldnt believe that the cop didnt even see this! I think stiffer penalties are needed, but I also wish they would enforce the laws we have as well.

The CDC just reported that 60% of older teens routinely Text and Drive. I think its starting to become clear that legislation has value in raising public awareness in forums like this one but it will be difficult to solely legislate our way out of this issue. I also read that over 3/4 of teens text daily - many text more than 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook - even with their professors. Tweens (ages 9 -12) send texts to each other from their bikes. Stiffer penalties aren't reaching deterring the biggest offenders.

I decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user, I built a texting asset called OTTER that is a simple and intuitive GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. While driving, OTTER silences those distracting call ringtones and chimes unless a bluetooth is enabled. The texting auto reply allows anyone to schedule a ‘texting blackout period’ in any situation like a meeting or a lecture without feeling disconnected. This software is a social messaging tool for the end user that also empowers this same individual to be a sustainably safer driver.

Erik Wood, owner
OTTER app
do one thing well... be great.

I solved a problem with a person who was texting and driving and I happened to be a passenger in his car when he was doing it. We were driving down RT 9 and he gets a text and grabs his phone off the console and starts reading it, then it texted back. I looked at him and I said, If you do that again while I'm in the car, I will throw that phone out the window! Several minutes went by and again he did the same thing. I waited for him to put the phone back down on the console, I grabbed it and put it down my underwear. Problem solved, he never texted again when ever I was in his car.

@Joseph love it! Good for you!!!!!!!!!

@mom in brick
Seriously? What's going on here. I think I would have caught up with the officer and asked what the heck he was thinking!. I would have been arrested. Hahaha

People who text and drive, talk and drive are stupid they don't get it...Killing someone and to damage their lives & those of family just to talk or text, should indeed be fined to the fullest of the law. I not only see kids I see more adults, mothers with children on board texting looking down not looking at the road they're driving on in their big SUVs. Ugh it makes me sick!

its a fine line/ & totally understand when peoples lives are lost looking at what can be done. BUT I see people with a bunch of people in the car loud music etc....
I see people reading newspapers & nooks
I see animals jumping all over a car while someone is driving
i see people going 20 miles under the speed limit on the left lane .. then just STOPPING on Rt 70,
I see police talking on the cell phone ( not hands free) while driving...
There are SO many disctactions that can be going on in a car
including the seniors who can not see or hear whats going on around them....

Can you text while your at a red light??

There was a car in front of us a few nights ago and I swore he was drunk! He was swerving pretty bad so I decided to get in front of him to be safe, as I passed him I realize he wasn't drunk, he was texting!!! I think it's a great law, if it's that important then pull over!!!

it takes awareness.. OK OK I have texted a few times in the past... BUT I watch where & when I text NOT in traffic at stop signs,, at red lights... OK I know its not that smart. BUT have seen worse drivers NOT texting... ( I dont anymore I just put my phone on speaker) ... Bad things to mix seniors & PPL Texting Deadly combo...

I hate to say it but do you know how many times I have driven across Brick and seen police officers talking on their cell phones without a hands free device??? How do we expect an honest crack down of the laws if those that are charged with enforcing them do not obey them????

Some of us use phone for driving directions on our map apps. I know this is distracting if you are alone. Need up save for one that talks to yogi ing step by step instructions.

I drive a school bus in brick and was almost hit at a light, I was going straight and he was turning, light turned green and while he was texting he turned in front of us and we almost hit him and would of if i was not paying attention to what he was doing.