Monroe County v. texting

Since the dawn of cell phones, staying connected has become easier than ever.
This is possible due in part to the fact that cell phones provide so many possible ways to communicate – any place, any time. And the text message has been perhaps the most influential improvement.

However, as those in positions of authority have picked up on the text messaging trend and the social problems that result from the habit, they are beginning to punish those who let text messaging interfere with public safety. Most recently, Monroe County commissioners approved a ban, which went into effect Jan. 1, on texting while driving. The ban excludes the city of Bloomington.

Many tragedies have occurred as a direct result of texting while driving, including the death of Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Jones, who was struck by a car while directing traffic.

The driver had been texting.

Tragedies like this are unacceptable, and measures should be taken to make sure one never happens again. According to the Web site of Students Against Destructive Decisions, text messaging while driving is comparable to drunk driving.
The ban is a good thing, but it will be hard to enforce.

As students, we text message under desks, in our laps or behind seats in lecture halls. Professors all have their own forms of retribution when they spot a cell phone, and each student has his or her own creative way to hide the distracting glow emanating from his or her cell phone screen.

The citizens of Monroe County will continue to text and drive while figuring out similar ways to hide their phones from cops; it is too difficult for an officer to see whether or not a driver is using a cell phone. Additionally, there are other activities a person can be doing on a cell phone that this ban does not acknowledge.

Dialing a phone number, looking through recent calls or playing games are just a few ways cell phones can distract drivers. There are even more distractions, equally serious, that the ban does not address, like using PDAs for “Blackberry messaging” or recording VoiceNotes.

This ordinance has good intentions, but it must be followed up by more comprehensive measures to ensure that drivers aren’t distracted by their cell phones and that the streets of Monroe County are as safe as possible.