Enforcement - I was driving in Moultonborough last fall and was pulled over for "using my phone". The phone had been sitting on the seat, off, I had not touched it. I DID take a drink from my brown coffee mug and I DID pick up a piece of paper (to do list) to glance at it. The officer was insistent and accused me of lying. I was more indignant and asked him how he could possibly be sure of what I was doing and how I could even defend myself from a false charge like this (I looked into an app that displays on the lock screen the last time the system was used - no luck). In the end he let me go without a ticket.
I agree with the texting ban. It take too much visual and mental attention to text. My daughter totaled her boyfriend's truck and I strongly suspect she was texting when it happened. However, I use driving directions a lot and I do look at the screen to see how far to the next turn, whether it is a left or right, etc. I also look to see WHO sent me a text message and a quick glance to see the beginning of the message. I may be expecting an important message and if it comes in I want to pull over and deal with it. Phones and communication are very useful and in some cases, critical.
As to stricter enforcement like blocking text while driving, no thanks. I see women putting on makeup and turning around to interact with their kids in the back seat. I see guys shaving. I see people gesturing, sometimes with BOTH hands) and talking excitedly on their hands free calls. All these people are just as distracted. Maybe we should ban kids from cars unless there is a second adult in the car to "spot" them like for water skiing?
Personal responsibility and driver education is the answer and there are laws in place already for distracted and reckless driving.
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