Getting back on topic, I know I'm late to the party, but I have to speak up. I raised this over at the same thread topic at TWC Classics, so here I go...
First of all, I don't know how anyone believes this law is a stupid idea. But it is even more stupid that drivers even think of texting while driving. You might as well give them a friggin' beer, have them drink it and try and drive a straight line.
I believe it will be difficult to enforce the law on those who are texting because unlike talking on the cell phone, you cannot with ease visibly see them doing it as it is when you can see someone holding the phone to their ear. The driver would be looking down while texting. Why do you think that we are seeing more and more cars being sold where in their commercials, either you can hook up your cell phone to your dashboard for speakphone use or better yet, have voice activation systems included where you can talk? To entice drivers to stop putting their cell phones to their ears and have two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road while driving.
Al, how do you not need your eyes to text? That makes no sense. Unless you're one of the best typists in the country, I cannot see how this is possible especially while driving.
The bottom line is, like drunken driving, talking on cell phones and text messaging while driving causes accidents. That's what is at stake here. Some of them can be fatal. I've seen reports far too often of accidents happening as a result of an idiot chatting on their cell phone and yes, even texting.
If people are that friggin' lazy to get themselves a hands-free kit or pull over to the side of the road to text, then they shouldn't be driving. Then again, that's the problem. People are too distracted, too preoccupied with other things while driving. Hard to believe that there are people that actually groom, eat meals, do makeup, read newspapers or anything else while driving AT THE SAME TIME! I've seen it with my own two eyes.
Should these laws be enforced? darn right they should. Recently, I was late to work because of an accident that I later learned was caused by a driver that was talking on their cell phone. Again, I'm sure the police will find an effective way to catch offenders, but we aren't fully aware of what methods they are besides the obvious.