New York – Westchester County is the first county in the Hudson Valley to ban text messaging by motorists.
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The County Board of Legislators today approved the local law to further enhance public safety on the roads since texting is seen as a major distraction to drivers, said Legislation Committee Chairman William Burton.
“Back in the Model A days, everybody drove in their cars, the dust hit them in the face and that was the biggest thing that was the problem, or an occasional goose or an occasional cow,” he said. “But now, you’re driving down the street and suddenly some guy is coming to you in the other direction because either he is listening to the tunes in his IPod, or really worse, he’s texting a friend and forgot about what he was doing. So, he runs into a parked car, he runs into you, he runs off the road. This stuff is showing up more and more.”
Once the law kicks in, in the days ahead, an extensive educational campaign will be launched to alert the public of the new law.
The law does not apply to hands-free or GPS devices.
I live in Queens and some girl hit a pole because she was texting and a boy drove thru a stop sign and up a driveway striking a parked car because of texting.
I see pedestrians in Manhattan walkinging into moving traffic and cars screeching to a stop because of texting and walking or blasting ipods.
Theses devices are misused and a sakana because of it.
They should be banned while driving everywhere. And pedestrians should be fined for reckless endangerment.
Thats a good thing, its SAKUNAS NEFASHOS mamesh,
driv’ing is not a joke people dont know, I had a massive MVA (motor vcl. accident) ONLY cuz of that,
I wish they do it everywhere, God bless u all
Thats how Traffic Jams start…
Have you ever had that all of a sudden on the highway some cars ahead of you slowed down for no reason, when you finaly pass them you notice that they are busy with there gadges then driving the Car….
I like this Law, no texting or even playing with your Ipod or Zune
Just drive the Car..
The left lane is for Passing only… Stay out of my way….
Lock & Load
wht? u cnt drive wile u text? iz this 4 real? HEY! u CRAZY PEDESTRIAN get out of my way i’m L8 4 work. :.)
i think this is a gr8 law maybe this way there will be less road accidents
What I don’t understand is that wasn’t it already ilegal to “operate a mobile device” while driving? I got a ticket once for talking on a cell phone and that is what the ticket said. So isn’t texting also “operating” the mobile device?
thats why u should take mass transit and let someone else do the driving and also alleviate the congestion.