Millions of text messages are sent each day in the United States. In fact, in the time I spend writing this article, I will send over 25 texts myself. But ask yourself, how many of these text messages could potentially kill you?
In Wisconsin, a new anti-texting bill officially went into effect this Wednesday. This bill bans sending or reading text messages while driving. While the penalties for such actions are the same for inattentive driving, anywhere from $20-$400, the bill specifically targets reading, typing and sending texts.
For those of you who believe that this new law will render your phones useless, breathe easy. The law only targets texting. You can still use your GPS, music player and other apps on your phone as long as it doesn't distract you from driving. For instance, if you are going through phone withdrawl just knowing this bill went into effect, fear not. Technically, only one aspect of your phone is rendered useless.
As an avid and almost addicted ""texter"" myself, I am in full support of this bill. I feel like texting and driving is dangerous and the effects of it have been seen all over the country. According to reports by CNBC, texting while driving is more dangerous than drunken driving. Your inability to focus on two things at once inevitably slows reaction time and can result in catastrophic accidents.
Besides, do you really need to talk to somebody so badly that you can't wait until you arrive at your destination? And if you really do need to talk to somebody that badly just call him or her. Under current Wisconsin law, you are still allowed to talk on your cell phone while driving.
There should be no reason at all to text and drive when you can call.
I am originally from California, where you can't text or call anybody while driving. So I already know what it's like to have this law in place, and it's really not that bad. It makes for responsible drivers thus resulting in safer roads. I would rather have that than have the opportunity to text my friends every second of every day.
I do, however, have some issues with this new law. Not with the law itself, but with the decision to introduce this law ahead of so many others. With the state's relaxed drunken driving laws and it's reputation as a heavy drinking state, I would think that those would be the laws to be reformed first and foremost. According to MADD, Wisconsin roads are in the top 20 percent of least safe due to drunk driving. It is this statistic that I would like to see changed.
Yes, it is a step in the right direction to make our roads safer with this law and yes, it has been proven that texting while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk. However, with our reputation I would think drunken driving law reform would take precedent over texting while driving.
With that being said, texting while driving is just flat out dangerous. No matter how good you think you are at texting without looking or if you have the fastest fingers in the Northern Hemisphere, don't do it. If not for yourself, do it for other drivers. You are putting so many lives in danger. Pedestrians and other drivers suffer the consequences from your inattentiveness. Be responsible and put your phones away.By the way, I just sent 32 texts.
Nick Fritz is a sophomore majoring in marketing. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
