WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.Editorial: Texting While Driving

Editorial: Texting While Driving

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By Collin Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:20:53 GMT
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident. The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are
    If you text and drive it's a matter of WHEN and not IF you will be involved in an accident.  The odds are stacked against you when your eyes and hands are more focused on your cell phone than they are the other motorists on the roadways.

  • Tuesday, May 15 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-15 23:20:31 GMT
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments: "If the budget is passed at this severely cut rate, the shortage of physicians, hospitals, and clinics
    On our editorial suggesting that the governor raise taxes to fund Medicaid, we received these comments:

  • Tuesday, May 1 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-05-01 23:20:35 GMT
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"
    If your commute includes I-85 in the mornings I'm sure you've noticed men alongside the roadways picking up trash and road debris and thought to yourself "who would want to do that?"

  • Friday, April 20 2012 7:20 PM EDT2012-04-20 23:20:42 GMT
    For the next sixty seconds I want you to give yourself permission to push pause on whatever you are doing and listen and reflect for a moment. I did this recently after reading an article titled "Top five

  • Wednesday, April 18 2012 7:27 PM EDT2012-04-18 23:27:31 GMT
    Representative Christopher John England (Tuscaloosa) has sponsored a bill in the Alabama legislature that would allow convicted felons of drug crimes to receive food stamps under certain circumstances.
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The National Transportation board recommended this week that states should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies. 

Text messaging on cell phones is banned for all drivers in 35 states and the District of Columbia.  Alabama and six other states, ban only novice drivers from texting.  Novice drivers defined as 16 and 17-year-old drivers who have held an intermediate license for fewer than 6 months. 

In Montgomery, we have ordinances against text messaging and the use of handheld devices while driving but it's only a secondary offense.  Meaning police cannot pull over violators for that reason alone. 

Alabama Representative Jim McClendon said it best and I quote, "If you don't use seat belts, you put yourself at risk.  When you text message, you put everybody at risk."  We couldn't agree more.  Getting behind the wheel is serious business and doing anything other than focusing on the road is downright selfish and potentially life threatening. 

When the Alabama legislature reconvenes in February we strongly encourage them to have the courage to pass primary meaningful laws against texting while driving.  It's the common sense thing to do and it will save lives. 

We appreciate and encourage your feedback.