You can’t legislate common sense. But you can penalize those who fail to exercise it.
And then maybe they’ll get the idea on their own.
That’s the essence of legislation approved last week by the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee. It would ban text messaging while driving.
It continues to amaze us that anyone would think the practice of reading and sending text messages during the operation of a motor vehicle is justified. But by all accounts, it’s a relatively common practice that has grown with the popularity of texting.
And there is no doubt it contributes to automobile accidents.
Specifically, the legislation prohibits texting by the driver of a moving vehicle. If the vehicle is stopped, texting is permitted. That’s OK — unless you happen to be behind a texting motorist stopped at a light who fails to notice it has turned green.
Violators would face a $50 fine, which would double in school and work zones and at emergency response areas.
This particular bill, submitted by Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny, also would prohibit drivers under the age of 18 from using a hand-held cell phone while driving. That’s a modest step. We continue to believe the use of any such device by drivers, regardless of age, is a road hazard.
We also are puzzled by another section of the bill that would prohibit insurance companies from raising the rates of violators. If these individuals are increasing the chances for accidents on streets and highways, they ought to pay higher insurance rates.
If not, then other motorists are subsidizing their recklessness.
Despite these shortcomings, the legislation is far stronger than anything else Pennsylvania lawmakers have produced in the way of distracted driving prevention. Some states already ban texting and cell phone use. And many corporations tell their employees not to engage in these practices.
For those who claim they can handle the dual tasks of driving and texting, our response is that a lot of drunk drivers probably believe the same thing. But the data tell a different story. Research shows that people who are texting have slower reaction times to events on the road. And if their attention is diverted, the chances of an accident increase.
Of course, all of that is common sense. Studies merely confirm the obvious.
By itself, a $50 fine may do little to deter texting. But we hope this bill — if the Legislature actually gets around to passing it — will serve as a message to motorists. When you are behind the wheel, driving needs to be your only concern. Otherwise, you place your life, and the lives of those around you, in jeopardy.
