The federal government has shown a keen interest in the wireless communications industry of late. They’re examining antitrust issues, including handset exclusivity deals and roaming practices. They won’t end there, though. The latest telecommunications issue on the senate floor is texting while driving. A group of senators led by New York Democrat Charles Schumer have introduced legislation which would require states to enact bans on texting and emailing while driving within two years. What’s the best way to compel states to enact such laws? Threaten their annual federal highway funding, to the tune of 25 percent.
The senators have studies to back up this proposed legislation. Truck drivers are shown to be significantly more accident prone — 23 percent more, to be exact — when texting while driving. These are drivers who are supposedly a cut above, charged with manning bulky 18-wheel rigs which require precision to operate. The risk to the average driver could be even greater. The study also showed that there is even a greater risk of collision when reaching for an electronic device. This, of course, includes items like MP3 players, which if banned in cars would cause a national riot.
Sen. Schumer minced no words when speaking on the matter. “The federal government ought to pass a law banning this dangerous and growing practice to protect the millions of Americans on our nation’s roads. It is a matter of public safety.” While federal legislation might be necessary, it seems odd that all states haven’t already banned this obviously dangerous act. What sounds safe about taking your eyes off the road and hands off the wheel to compose a message?
If the legislation passes — and even proponents of smaller government can admit that it is sensible — states would receive guidelines within six months, after which they’d have two years to create their own legislation. This seems like a loose timeline. Yes, legislation needs time to tweak and pass through various governing bodies, but that’s two years in which there will continue to be no penalties for endangering the well-being of others.
This isn’t the first text messaging related issue congress has addressed. Last year Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.) wondered why text messaging rates kept rising while the cost to deliver such messages had not gone up proportionally. Under the 20 cents per message rate most carriers have adopted, SMS comes to $1,310.72 per megabyte, and insane rate in every sense. While that’s a gross overcharging, even gouging, of consumers, the texting while driving issue is a bit more important because of the people at stake.
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