Text no more - while driving
Texting law targets 21 and under
Kelley Kates
Issue date: 9/7/09 Section: News
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Aug. 28, Gov. Jay Nixon signed a law that prohibits those younger than 21 from texting while driving.
One criticism of the law is that it does not include all ages.
A report issued on the College Media Web site quoted Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes saying that he doesn't understand the reasoning for the age distinction and he is not sure an older person is any more capable of texting while driving than a young person.
When Nixon spoke about the new law with the Lee's Summit Highway Patrol Troop, he noted that a study by researchers at Virginia Tech University showed the risk of a crash or near-crash increases more than 23 times when drivers send text messages.
"The statistics are very real here," Nixon said.
Another concern with the law is the wording. Many interpreted the law as specifically targeting those driving on the highway.
"No person 21 years of age or younger operating a moving motor vehicle upon the highways of this state shall, by means of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device, send, read or write a text message or electronic message (Section 304.820 RSMo.)," it reads. "Violation of this section shall be deemed an infraction and shall be deemed a moving violation for purposes of point assessment under section 302.302, RSMo."
However, a representative from the Missouri Highway Patrol explained that the term "highway" does not carry the same meaning as it implies.
"The Highway Patrol refers to any public roadway as a highway," she said.
Senior Civil Engineering student, Blake Madden, who does not text, said all text messaging while driving should definitely be illegal and it should be expanded to include all age groups.
"It is discrimination against young adults," Madden said. "Texting and driving should be illegal for all people, regardless of age."
Madden added that he thinks people who text while driving have a lack of respect for themselves and others on the road.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Krystal Kid
posted 9/09/09 @ 11:00 AM CST
80% percent of all rear end collisions are caused by driver inattention, following too closely, external distraction (talking on cell phones, shaving, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or CD player, kids, texting, etc. (Continued…)
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