The Rocket

Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Chelsey Rovesti

Human beings are strange creatures.

A person could go hours on end without sending one text message. But once they get behind the wheel of a car, they decide it'd be a great idea to start sending messages.

According to the to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, accidents involving talking or text messaging while driving have gone up 43 percent from 2005 to 2008 in western Pennsylvania.

Now the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Various news sources have estimated that the deaths from text messaging have ranged between 2,000 and 3,000.

Injuries are estimated at several hundred thousand. But fewer than 20 states have a law regarding texting and driving.

Pennsylvania needs to become one.

On Monday, Nov. 9, House Transportation Committee Chairman Joseph F. Markosek introduced legislation that would ban all drivers from text messaging in Pennsylvania.

The bill would also ban holders of learner's permits and junior licenses from using any wireless communication device while driving.

It's about time the state is stepping in to try to enforce this law.

People who text while driving aren't only putting their lives at risk, but the lives of others as well.

At SRU in particular, many drivers can be seen texting while driving around town.

Some people have their steering wheel in one hand while firing off text messages with the other.

In a lot of ways, texting while driving is similar to drinking and driving. Both situations leave the driver impaired to react properly to any kind of hazard that may appear in the road.

Even being distracted for an instant can result in serious consequences for the driver.

While a majority of The Rocket staff wouldn't be opposed to such a ban, many of us are guilty of texting while driving.

For some reason, we've been so used to instant communication that whenever we get a text while driving, our natural instinct is to respond.

This isn't safe.

That's why we believe this ban should be put in place. People will eventually learn to stop when they're hit with a $50 fine.

We have become so dependant and needy about keeping in touch that people are willing to risk their lives to send messages. While you're at it, why don't you also smoke a cigarette and shave your face while driving?

If communication can't wait until people reach their destinations, then why should any other everyday task wait?

So, students of SRU, please don't text and drive.

Twitter and Facebook can wait until you get back home.

No one is waiting for you to update and say you're driving home.

Especially when you or someone else's life may be in danger.

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