re: TEXTING while driving KILLED those 13 people in Texas. Wow.

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Texting/Distracted driving and drunk driving need more stiff penalties than exist today.

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A couple of the Euro countries have the penalties just about right for dui and distracted driving. The fines are based upon income/assets and the suspension of license is permanent on 1st offense.

Asset/income based fines make even the very wealthy hesitant to drive impaired or with their phones out and yet it still punishes the "less financially sound" a way to stay out of jail, keep their job, but still receive punishment.

Don't need new laws, just refined punishments.

It used to be that if you saw a car swerving all over the road, you'd think, "OMG, that driver is drunk." But it was very rare that your saw someone driving so poorly.

Now you see it every time you take a trip, and the swerver is always on the phone.

Drunk driving is bad, but I think the phone crap has become waaay worse when it comes to causing accidents.

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The saddest part of this whole story is that Texas is one of 4 DUMB arse STATES that do not have a law against texting and driving. Insurance rates are going up all across the country because of stupid people texting and driving. Dumb people. Just dumb.

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Well shite, if Texas passes a law how do we know "sanctuary cities" for texters won't spring up anyway since our new improved societal norm is to only obey the laws you agree with?

People will never stop texting while driving no matter how high we stack the bodies. Period.

I think a guy in Baton Rouge invented something that disables text on your phone. Not sure how it works but assume there would be a sensor on the steering wheel and if a phone is within x inches of the sensor and the car is moving then texting is disabled. If it works, it needs to be mandatory.

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You need a law to tell you not to text while driving?

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We have laws that prohibit texting and driving hey half the drivers on the road can't put theirs phones down.

I did some observations one week about a year ago. I live in a rural area and drive primarily on two lane state highways. I made it a point that week to look directly into the faces of every driver I met. Easily more than half were looking down at their phones when I met them. Another time, I was run off of the road onto the shoulder three times in one week by people on their phones. 10 times a bigger problem than drinking and driving at least, imo.

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Your a democrat aren't you? Bless your heart you think that a law against texting while driving stop texting.

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Yeah right. Republibiterian here. If you don't have laws then you can't enforce them. It would help if the police would enforce the laws and since most people texting are stupid young punks, fine the hell out of them so daddy can pay it and deal with them and then make them do community service. Too many of these young fools don't understand how serious of an issue this is. If your child or close friend or parent died in a car crash from a distracted texting driver then I GUARANTEE you they would have a different attitude. Some people are just dumb and never get it.

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And this was five years ago before literally everyone had a smart phone. Its gotten worse.

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What? Everyone had smart phones in 2012 and texting was available on Nokia phones 20 years ago.

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The saddest part of this whole story is that Texas is one of 4 DUMB arse STATES that do not have a law against texting and driving

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Law doesnt matter. Half the cars I pass while driving people are staring at their phones. But Do you know a single person who has gotten a ticket for texting and driving?