I see where Arizona state representative Steve Farley wants to make it illegal to read or send text messages while driving. While I agree that texting while driving is not the smartest thing a person could do, where does this idiocy end?
I would think that there are many things that are even more distracting than texting to drivers. Should we in fact make eating food and drinking beverages while operating a vehicle unlawful? Should we the ban the sophisticated electronics in a car such a GPS devices or complicated stereos that people continually fiddle with while they are driving. In fact, if we are to outlaw the most odious of distractions to drivers, we must in fact make it against the law to transport any child under the age of 18.
Lets face it; there are many distractions that can cause a driver to loose focus while operating a moving vehicle. The ability to concentrate while driving is a fundamental skill that should be the hallmark of any good driver. The loss of concentration while diving, regardless of the cause, already has many consequences including many civil liabilities. When will our lawmakers learn that you cannot legislate the public into good driving habits any more than you can legislate moral values upon a society?
How about we outlaw the “smokin deals” distraction, where they pour smoke in the air on 32nd Street. I have seen a few near misses, because drivers were paying more attention to the smoke than they were the road.