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In my car/truck, everyone wears a seatbelt. I’ve had 2 wrecks that I probably wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for the seatbelt holding me in place. As a consequence, I require all riding with me to wear thiers: My vehicle, my rules. But this doesn’t have any effect on the safety of other on or near the road. This is why I don’t believe any government should require seatbelt or helmet use. Yes, they save lives (since such laws have been instituted the survival rate is measurably higher), but it’s our life to risk, even stupidly so.
The destracted driving issue is different though. When you’re talking/texting, eating, applying make-up, etc, you’re putting other lives at risk (as if driving isn’t already risky enough). The government is well within it’s pervue to require drivers to pay attention to this dangerous activity while on roads payed for through tax dollars. What you do in your driveway is your business. When on highways, you have a duty to give all your attention to not killing/maiming the others who paid for the pavement. This point seems to escape Mr. Payne.
Texting and cell phone use is killing people, period. Using a cell phone for lengthy and distracting conversations, hand held or hands free, is dangerous. When police etc use radios and 10 codes, “conversation” is brief and to the point of the need at hand. Even microphone conversations on CB radios were more limited, and less dangerous. Because the “band hogs” were condemned by other users, it was NOT the same as cell phone use.
EVERY study and test has shown that texting is FAR more dangerous than drunk driving, and hand held cell phones are just as bad as drunk.
Let’s indeed do away with the “nanny state”. NO drunk driving laws, speed limits (especially in school zones), school buses, stop signs, FDA, FBI, law enforcement, fire protection, restaurant inspections, or silly “government provided” clean water to our cities, OR sewer systems!
A couple of months ago I ended up driving across someone’s lawn to avoid a head on collision with a fool who was talking on his cell phone. I’m all for doing away with laws and regulations that are overboard but when you are driving, you should only be driving, not multitasking. You may think you can handle both at once but trust me, you can’t.
The next time you see someone in traffic who is not maintaining speed and/or drifting out of his lane, check to see if (s)he’s on the phone. Studies have shown that drivers who are TALKING perform as is they were drunk. Now add taking their eyes off the road to text. What’s next, projecting videos on the windshield while they drive?
In one study in 2003, “cell-phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers.” And that’s just talking on a cell-phone, what about checking the web or texting……if we are regulating drinking and driving, then after all the data that states cell-phone use in the car could be as dangerous, it’s time to regulate use by the driver. -———— http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAssessment2003.pdf
Called "the Thomas Nast of his time" by The National Review magazine, Payne is an informed journalist whose investigative writing has also made national headlines.
Pat Oliphant by Pat Oliphant
Joel Pett by Joel Pett
Comments (22) (Please sign in to comment)
formally known as doc white said, over 1 year ago
Hell, let everyone do what they want that is dangers.Then take them to court. If alive.
CasualBrowser
said, over 1 year ago
@formally known as doc white
That’s the problem doc, the dangerous driver may survive the incident, but innocent bystanders may not.
CasualBrowser
said, over 1 year ago
In my car/truck, everyone wears a seatbelt. I’ve had 2 wrecks that I probably wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for the seatbelt holding me in place. As a consequence, I require all riding with me to wear thiers: My vehicle, my rules. But this doesn’t have any effect on the safety of other on or near the road. This is why I don’t believe any government should require seatbelt or helmet use. Yes, they save lives (since such laws have been instituted the survival rate is measurably higher), but it’s our life to risk, even stupidly so.
The destracted driving issue is different though. When you’re talking/texting, eating, applying make-up, etc, you’re putting other lives at risk (as if driving isn’t already risky enough). The government is well within it’s pervue to require drivers to pay attention to this dangerous activity while on roads payed for through tax dollars. What you do in your driveway is your business. When on highways, you have a duty to give all your attention to not killing/maiming the others who paid for the pavement. This point seems to escape Mr. Payne.
CasualBrowser
said, over 1 year ago
payed!? oops, I meant PAID.
Howard Noble
said, over 1 year ago
Texting kills.
DrCanuck said, over 1 year ago
Nanny State? Hardly! It’s just us using our government to enact laws to protect ourselves against the idiots and scam artists amongst us.
Clark Kent said, over 1 year ago
What she is doing is interfering with the driver.
In most places that is a crime. She could go to prison.
skipcarlsen said, over 1 year ago
That should be Obama in the back seat; leading from behind as usual.
dtroutma
said, over 1 year ago
Texting and cell phone use is killing people, period. Using a cell phone for lengthy and distracting conversations, hand held or hands free, is dangerous. When police etc use radios and 10 codes, “conversation” is brief and to the point of the need at hand. Even microphone conversations on CB radios were more limited, and less dangerous. Because the “band hogs” were condemned by other users, it was NOT the same as cell phone use.
EVERY study and test has shown that texting is FAR more dangerous than drunk driving, and hand held cell phones are just as bad as drunk.
Let’s indeed do away with the “nanny state”. NO drunk driving laws, speed limits (especially in school zones), school buses, stop signs, FDA, FBI, law enforcement, fire protection, restaurant inspections, or silly “government provided” clean water to our cities, OR sewer systems!
ADK_Jim said, over 1 year ago
A couple of months ago I ended up driving across someone’s lawn to avoid a head on collision with a fool who was talking on his cell phone. I’m all for doing away with laws and regulations that are overboard but when you are driving, you should only be driving, not multitasking. You may think you can handle both at once but trust me, you can’t.
rvernon said, over 1 year ago
This is the single most astoundingly stupid cartoon I’ve read all year.
olfart said, over 1 year ago
@ CasualBrowser;
EXACTLY! And that goes for all other victimless crimes. No one has a right to protect people from themselves.
Eryx
said, over 1 year ago
The next time you see someone in traffic who is not maintaining speed and/or drifting out of his lane, check to see if (s)he’s on the phone. Studies have shown that drivers who are TALKING perform as is they were drunk. Now add taking their eyes off the road to text. What’s next, projecting videos on the windshield while they drive?
feverjr said, over 1 year ago
In one study in 2003, “cell-phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers.” And that’s just talking on a cell-phone, what about checking the web or texting……if we are regulating drinking and driving, then after all the data that states cell-phone use in the car could be as dangerous, it’s time to regulate use by the driver.
-————http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAssessment2003.pdf
Radish
said, over 1 year ago
Paynes nanny should whap him everytime he makes one of these cartoons.