Maybe belongs in Clubhouse?

New York adding 'texting zones" on highways

The state of New York announced on Monday it will be instituting so-called texting zones for drivers who just cannot wait to send an LOL or emoji to their BFF. There will be 91 zones at first, all of which will take advantage of existing rest areas, in a trial program instituted by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured above), as part of his continuing efforts to reduce the number of distracted drivers on the state's roads. "New York State is continuing to use every tool at its disposal to combat texting while driving," the governor said during a press conference. Naturally, the program will expand if drivers actually use the zones.

As AOL Autos reports, the zones are part of a larger push by the state to curb distracted driving, a move that truly began this summer when police were gifted with a lifted SUV. Rather than just looking brotastic - we're sure it did - it allowed police to see into the driver's seat and find the those that were using their phones while driving. The result was a 365-percent increase in tickets over the previous summer, although how much the crackdown actually did to discourage distracted driving remains open for debate.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/10/04/n...ones-highways/

 

Good idea, if executed right.

 

Yeah, the new $150 fine + 2 points does not seem to help much. People still text and drive.

 

At least for newer cars some have texting/reply features

 

Next up - NY bans all texting while driving. Ticket revenue increases 1000-fold in former text zones.

 

Agreed.
But I have a feeling it won't be strictly enforced. People will still text regardless. There need to be harsher punishments.

 

As I recall two (2) of them are on the LIE in Huntington area on Long Island, no idea where the rest of them are going to be in the NY State. Doubt it makes a difference but it is a start, assuming those driving can wait to respond to the texts.

 

In L.A., they took out all rest areas along roads and highways. State could no longer pay to maintain them. So how is NY able to afford this? It's not cheap transforming a prime piece of land for a new use.
Plus, how is this safe? Anytime you have a rest area, it becomes a known target for theft, abductions, carjackings, foul play, and loitering. Can you say "sitting target?" You can't have people sit on the side of the road like you could back in the 70's. This is a sick society today, just turn on the news any given evening. Bad idea.

 

Or, we could just train people not to be idiots and stop texting for that little time when they're driving from point A to point B.

 

Texting and driving will never stop, Other people will have to adjust their driving to be aware of those who are distracted behind the wheel

At least they are trying to do something, instead of it just being a money grab. ...not very often do I shoot Kudos to NYC, but this is on of those rare occasions :thumbsup:

 

No, Driftgirl. Gengar is correct. Texting while driving HAS to stop. It is a matter just as serious, if not more so, than DUI/DWI or reckless driving. If it takes aggressive enforcement......and serious penalties.....for it to stop, then fine, bring them on.

IMO, it is not the job of the state to accommodate special traffic-patterns those who simply refuse to exercise common sense behind the wheel. State highway departments should not have to subsidize stupidity.

Fizzboy7 is also correct when he points out that setting up these zones can also become an open invitation for other crimes.

 

That's discriminating!
What about people who need to update their facebook every 5 seconds? Where are the rights for those people, huh?




Just in case some people who didn't get it, that was sarcasm.

 

Why stop there? Why not also post on CL while driving?

Gee....that's not a bad idea......I could do my car reviews more quickly.

 

in a "perfect world"....Unfortunately reality has us dodging reckless drivers, careless drivers and impaired drivers all the time.

Ill admit to using Voice2text. yes, its still a bit distracting... but a lot better than seeing someone looking down at their phone in traffic.

All people can do is help educate the next generation, like they did with seatbelt laws. I remember posters all over my class rooms and hallways.

 

Agreed......but too many people refuse to listen even when they are educated. For them, there has to be tough laws to deal with situations like that.