The Rocket

Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeremy Saylor A University of Utah study has found that college students face an eight times greater risk of crashing while texting and driving. The introduced legislation would impose a $50 fine for texting while driving.

In an era when cell phones are nearly deemed a necessity, few instances occur without a cell phone by one's side-including driving.
Texting while driving poses many potential dangers, and House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph F. Markosek realized these dangers. He has introduced a piece of legislature to prevent them from happening more.
The new law would prohibit motorists from text messaging while driving on Pennsylvania roads.
The bipartisan effort would also prohibit holders of learner's permits and junior licenses from using any type of cell phone or other wireless device while behind the wheel.
The violation would call for a $50 fine, rising to $100 if it occurred in a school or work zone. The proposed bill doesn't prohibit 911 calls in a case of emergency.
SRU campus Police Chief Robert Downey said he sees the overall appeal of the proposed legislature.
"The proposed law is designed to save lives," he said. "Texting while driving is a distraction. It takes away one hand from the wheel, and that in itself is dangerous."
Additionally, most SRU students said they realize the danger of texting while driving, like Jake Hostler, a freshman elementary education major.
"Overall, I think it's a good law," he said. "Obviously, texting and driving can kill. I think everyone realizes that."
But, with the new law proposed, everyone wonders whether people will still text and drive.
Hostler said he'd likely still text while driving periodically.
"Overall, I'll think about it more beforehand," he said. "Regardless, I know it puts people in danger."
Downey said he sees the bill as something that may be hard to enforce.
"It will be difficult," he said. "Motorists can only be caught really if they pass a cop. It's not going to generate a lot of money or anything like that. It's just made to save lives."
A University of Utah study of driving found that college students face an eight times greater risk of crashing while texting and driving. With that said, most students said they realize the potential dangers and think it's a good move by politicians.
"I think people of all ages will still choose to drive and text," Hostler said. "This won't eliminate it, but the potential of getting caught may make people think twice."
Downey said that by raising awareness of the dangers of texting while driving, lives could potentially be saved.
"If it can help raise awareness, and save just one life, I think it's worth being passed," he said.

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