http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
I say "accident" because obviously, texting behind the wheel and having a wreck is not an accident, the person knew they were doing something stupid.

I think more "accidents" that people have need to be considered crimes, beyond someone dying in an accident. If someone is tailgating another car, and ends up hitting the car, that is no "accident" and should be punished as an actual crime, not a traffic offense. Same thing with running a red light and hitting someone else and damaging their property and person. Those are not accidents.

Punishments need to be increased to misdemeanors and felonies with jail time to turn around the state of driving in this day and age.]]>Sep 8th 2007 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
That's just like saying people drinking and driving should only be charged if they get in accident _and someone is injured_.

People should take note that about 99% of all accidents are caused by human error. Texting and/or drinking while driving both subdue the brain and therefore it could cause the person to make a mistake and perhaps an accident.]]>Sep 27th 2007 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
but british government is of the inclination that, prevention is better than cure. in the real world, the implementation of the law would require far more police time (government knows this) so instead, scare the shit out of people and hope they dont break it.

chris]]>Sep 8th 2007 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
You're kidding, right? Our police are concerned primarily with power, secondarily by money, and also with government targets. By making such things as this into a more serious offence, they make their figures look better - they're catching more "criminals". Obviously, it satisfies the power lust. I just hope they don't get a cut of any income - like they do with our speed cameras. (Remember how they proliferated after the police started getting a cut of the revenue?)

Texting while driving is a stupid and dangerous thing to do. It does not, however, deserve this kind of punishment. If an accident is caused, bring a charge of dangerous driving. If a death is caused, bring a manslaughter charge. The mobile phone use in itself is not such a serious crime that it requires a prison sentence.]]>Sep 8th 2007 6:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/of it and someone is injured."

Umm, how about no. That ruins the whole point of the law. That's just like saying people drinking and driving should only be charged if they get in accident _and someone is injured_. If your idea was true, I could see people say to themselves, "Well, I can quickly do a text here, there's no way I can get in an accident."

People should take note that about 99% of all accidents are caused by human error. Texting and/or drinking while driving both subdue the brain and therefore it could cause the person to make a mistake and perhaps an accident.

And I, for one, would not want to be injured in a car accident because some idiot had to text message his wife to tell her that he's going to be late for dinner.]]>Sep 8th 2007 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/ This kind of punishment for texting or using other distractions behind the wheel of a car seem almost appropriate to me. Perhaps they should only be applied when an "accident" occurs because of it and someone is injured.
>

The idea is to get people who can't think of how their actions might affect others (and care) to act appropriately for the wrong reasons.

People should consider the following:
* The serious inconvenience of being forced to pull their cars over to the side of the road to text/make a call.
* The loss of one or more lives and destruction of the families/social groups surrounding those people.

Then balance them before deciding to drive whilst texting; unfortunately, lots of poeple can't/won't/don't care to- make such rationalisations but they do understand that being punished themselves is bad.
]]>Sep 8th 2007 4:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
I will admit guilt to occasional ejecting and loading a new mp3 cd while driving on the highway. I know, its bad... and quite difficult. In fact, I probably won't be doing it anymore. It's damn hard to keep going in a straight line while doing all that stuff (especially with the way they align steering on newer cars these days... to slowly go slightly to the right).]]>Sep 8th 2007 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.teletrafficuk.com and http://www.tssltd.co.uk/traffic-enforcement.html for details.]]>Sep 8th 2007 5:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 5:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
And Britain, like Australia and America, is becoming an Orwellian nanny-state.]]>Sep 8th 2007 5:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 10th 2007 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/They should do this in Los Angeles. ]]>Sep 8th 2007 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Site I'm a junky , i want vista please ]]>Sep 8th 2007 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/As loong as I'm able to use it in the care I will do it once in a while... knowing that I shouldn't.
Eventually when voice rocognition catches up it may be easier to reply to text messaging, but you would still have to read them (or they would be read to you) ...one way or the other the distraction is going to be there and like driving the speed limit no one is going to obey it all the time.]]>Sep 8th 2007 6:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/i dunno, maybe you could...talk? leave a message?

what is this great fascination with using an underdeveloped keyboard to send messages on a device that lets you talk to people with far less trouble? ]]>Sep 8th 2007 9:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/sending a text message leaves a record of that exact communication and for business purposes and future reference is invaluable.
I have a simpe cell phone (an older version of Razr)for talking and a Blackberry for messaging. Two different accounts.
Before you start calling people names try understanding the reasons why they do things that you don't comprehend. As a suggestion try moving out from your parents appartment it may broaden your horizons. :)]]>Sep 9th 2007 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
I've never understood why headphones in cars are banned in many places while it's perfectly legal to have a loud car stereo. Or why operating a cell phone handset is banned but eating a Big Mac is not*.

As someone else suggested, forget banning specific devices; use existing laws to cover anything that keeps a driver's hands of the wheel, or eyes off the road.

*Actually, eating a Big Mac should be illegal on general principles.]]>Sep 8th 2007 7:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 9:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/
Same with headphones compared to a loud car stereo; they both block outside noise. Or operating a phone handset compared to eating while driving; they both take your hands off the wheel. There are disparities in various laws that a swift lawyer could easily use to get individual sections of a law thrown out.]]>Sep 8th 2007 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 7:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/FTW!!]]>Sep 8th 2007 7:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 7:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 10th 2007 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/08/uk-drivers-caught-texting-could-get-2-years-behind-bars/Sep 8th 2007 8:07PM