Letter to the editor: Broader driving law sought

By Russell Davis, Jenks - 11/6/2009


We may get a law prohibiting one of the causes of distracted driving (texting) and maybe cell phone use too. Drivers should not do these things or anything else while driving. Unless you have a very dangerous occupation or hobby, driving is probably the riskiest thing you do.

How would such a law be enforced? Traffic laws we already have are not enforced regularly or consistently. Eighty percent to 90 percent of drivers exceed the speed limit. About half follow too closely or drive aggressively. About 30 percent are talking on phones or fooling with some other electronic gadget. Some are doing all these things.

As distracting as texting or phone use is, there are dozens of other things just as bad. If the law is passed, you could receive a ticket for texting, but it would still be OK to drink a cup of coffee and eat a sticky bun, apply make-up, trim your mustache or tie your tie. As a truck driver, I have seen people doing everything it is humanly possible to do while driving. Also, if people knew all the things truck drivers do while driving an 80,000-pound rig, they would give a much wider berth.

Is it worth the time and effort to pass a law against one or two causes of distracted driving? Why not just say all forms of distracted driving are illegal? Either way, it would be next to impossible to enforce, but it may discourage a few people.



Letters to the editor are encouraged. Each letter must be signed and include an address and a telephone number where the writer can be reached during business hours. Addresses and phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be a maximum of 250 words to be considered for publication and may be edited for length, style and grammar. Letters should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Tulsa World, Box 1770, Tulsa, Okla., 74102, or send e-mail to letters@tulsaworld.com.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/7/2009 12:08:24 AM)
Inattentive driving ordinance is really to subjective to be worth an officers effort and time to enforce. Is tuning the radio inattentive driving? How about adjusting the rear view mirror while driving. I mean your focusing your attention in the rear view mirror and not looking directly through the windshield. Unless your eating a 5 course meal while driving the inattentive driving laws are difficult to enforce because they are so subjective. If an officer wrote 5 inattentive driving tickets a week, he would spend a week in court justifying his actions against shark mentality type attorney's.

FS, Broken Arrow (11/6/2009 9:32:45 AM)
Loophole, (11/6/2009 6:57:36 AM) That's why we have an ordinance regarding "inattentive" driving. If they would only enforce that, it would cover all the distractions. . . _________________________ The cops won't enforce a thing unless the fine is high enough - I believe they are told not to fiddle away their time citing people for low-dollar offenses.

Isaac Parker, Tulsa (11/6/2009 6:27:30 AM)
For once, I agree with Hijinx.

Ric, Broken Arrow (11/6/2009 2:52:06 PM)
Inattentive Driving as Loophole puts it. That's how to control it. I think the police are too busy with other problems, not that this in not an important issue because it is. But, you can hear the public screaming right now, "pulling people over for applying makeup or texting when you should be out catching real criminals like rapists and murderers."

Hijinx, (11/6/2009 6:05:09 AM)
I’ve said this before a million times, You just cant legislate common sense. But I,m sure they will try.

M_Sizzle, Tulsa (11/6/2009 2:05:52 PM)
I text sometimes when i drive. It's definitely not a safe thing to do but it's hard not to.

Elusive, the burbs (11/7/2009 12:28:19 AM)
Most of the time the cops don't even know if you were doing something else besides watching the road before you had an accident. If they pass this law most people will immediately cease whatever distractive offense they are doing when they see a cop until he passes. Now, how many us have done that?

Elusive, the burbs (11/7/2009 12:29:57 AM)
It's not like someone would admit "oh yeh, I was setting my destination address on my GPS when I ran up your tailpipe"

senor notas, Tulsa (11/6/2009 12:01:10 PM)
I have written Chief Palmer about the lack of enforcement of our traffic laws. Our TPD is obviously inept and too lazy, also too busy to enforce them. They are a joke.

Loophole, (11/6/2009 6:57:36 AM)
That's why we have an ordinance regarding "inattentive" driving. If they would only enforce that, it would cover all the distractions. . .



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