# When will idiots learn not to text and drive? (Texas bus accident) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 1, 2017, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483 "2017-04-01T06:36:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/21 "2017-04-01T17:55:49Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I’m not entirely convinced “hands-free” set-ups really solve the distracted driving problem, . . . yes, if driving requires both hands, shouldn’t the brain be involved, too? mc ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/22 "2017-04-01T17:57:49Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Lay off the guy. He said he was sorry. Like four times! ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/23 "2017-04-01T18:10:12Z")
I think we need draconian penalties for these dangerous idiots, even if they don’t kill or injure anyone. The various state laws are a mess with some states banning the use whilst driving of handheld devices for all drivers, some banning cellphone use by newer drivers, and others banning school-bus drivers from use of the phone while children are present. I don’t know what the various penalties are for infractions of the law but I’ll wager they’re not heavy. The right thing is for all states to ban all drivers from using any device at all, handheld or not, whilst driving and the penalties for disobeying the law should be severe. My suggestion would be a warning for the first offense, an automatic ban of 1 year for the second, a ban of ten years for the third and a lifetime ban for the fourth. Of course killing or injuring someone would result in far more serious charges. I’m sure such laws could save many lives and prevent many terrible injuries. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/24 "2017-04-01T18:25:15Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Which is why I hate built-in touchscreen consoles in cars. I’m sure it’s purely a marketing thing to sell cars, because people love shiny new things, but seriously, NOBODY in the design meetings thought of this?! There’s nothing wrong with physical buttons! Physical controls can be felt, their locations become simple muscle memory. That just doesn’t work with a touchscreen where everything is flat and a button can be anywhere. Adding features may sell cars, but adding distractions kills people. Thank you! I don’t understand why all the new cars have this. I tried to drive a rental with a touchscreen and it was impossible to do anything. I like that I can reach over and adjust the radio without taking my eyes off the road. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/25 "2017-04-01T18:26:03Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I think we need draconian penalties for these dangerous idiots, even if they don’t kill or injure anyone. The various state laws are a mess with some states banning the use whilst driving of handheld devices for all drivers, some banning cellphone use by newer drivers, and others banning school-bus drivers from use of the phone while children are present. I don’t know what the various penalties are for infractions of the law but I’ll wager they’re not heavy. > > The right thing is for all states to ban all drivers from using any device at all, handheld or not, whilst driving and the penalties for disobeying the law should be severe. My suggestion would be a warning for the first offense, an automatic ban of 1 year for the second, a ban of ten years for the third and a lifetime ban for the fourth. Of course killing or injuring someone would result in far more serious charges. I’m sure such laws could save many lives and prevent many terrible injuries. Are you talking about a ban on driving, or a ban on cell phone use? I actually think that banning cell phone use for a year or ten would be a far bigger deterrent than banning driving. But, you do need to define “using”. I “use” a GPS sometimes when I am going somewhere I don’t know well. I entered the destination info in while parked, but I am still “using” it while driving. It is safer than a map, but I do take my eyes off the road occasionally to look at it to make sure I am going the right way. But, really, by the time we have all the distracted driving rules worked out, we’ll all have self driving cars. (And I am not claiming that we’ll have self driving cars in the terribly near future either.) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/26 "2017-04-01T18:31:28Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Thank you! I don’t understand why all the new cars have this. I tried to drive a rental with a touchscreen and it was impossible to do anything. I like that I can reach over and adjust the radio without taking my eyes off the road. It’s the new climate controls I find annoying. Used to be you had a few levers, and maybe a knob, if you knew your car even reasonably well, you could set your heat or AC and fan speed just with a couple of wrist flicks without having to look. Now I’ve got buttons to press, and a screen with a readout. It’s not touch screen, but it still requires you to actually look at it to tell the temperature, fan, and location settings, and instead of big levers that are easy to find and move without looking, it has little console buttons that I can push without looking, but it requires much more feeling about to make sure I’ve got the right one, and then it requires looking to make sure I have the right settings. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/27 "2017-04-01T18:38:10Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > The right thing is for all states to ban all drivers from using any device at all, handheld or not, whilst driving and the penalties for disobeying the law should be severe. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > But, you do need to define “using”. …and/or “device.” ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/28 "2017-04-01T18:48:17Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > It’s the new climate controls I find annoying. Used to be you had a few levers, and maybe a knob, if you knew your car even reasonably well, you could set your heat or AC and fan speed just with a couple of wrist flicks without having to look. > > Now I’ve got buttons to press, and a screen with a readout. It’s not touch screen, but it still requires you to actually look at it to tell the temperature, fan, and location settings, and instead of big levers that are easy to find and move without looking, it has little console buttons that I can push without looking, but it requires much more feeling about to make sure I’ve got the right one, and then it requires looking to make sure I have the right settings. (shakes fist) these dadgum new fangled contraptions. . . in my day. . . (shakes fist harder) mc ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/29 "2017-04-01T19:05:32Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Didn’t drinking and driving used to be seen that way? Not that people don’t still do that, but it’s generally considered to be a Major Bad Thing nowadays. So maybe—just maybe—we could see a similar change in the general public’s attitude toward texting and driving. Twelve years ago I posted about a prominent cyclist being killed by a texting driver. > **[A misdemeanor for killing a bicyclist.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347787)** > > All I can say to start this pit is FUCK! The victim here was well known on more than a few bicycle forums, he went (typically) by the name of Sydney. He was a very well-informed, very knowledgable bike mechanic and was full of helpful advice. He... Read how a lot of the replies were of the “it was an accident! Why should he be punished?” Variety. Now read the replies to this thread. Attitudes change, but slowly. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/30 "2017-04-01T19:43:30Z")
Good. Points and jail time at least equivalent to drunk driving should be the start for texting/game-playing/movie watching and driving, and legislatures should make it easy to add new distractions to the list. People, in general, are too fucking stupid, and need to be slapped down hard and frequently in order for the idiocy of texting and driving to penetrate the general consciousness. Maybe a few soccer moms per county spending a few months behind bars, getting a criminal record, and having it make the news will wake us up. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/31 "2017-04-01T19:57:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Which is why I hate built-in touchscreen consoles in cars. Mine is disabled when the vehicle is moving, even at very low speeds. Instead control reverts to a big dial + a few buttons near the parking break switch on the center console. Still potentially distracting like any non-driving activity, but less so as it can be manipulated completely by feel. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/32 "2017-04-01T20:01:44Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I’m absolutely convinced that it makes no difference at all. Hands or no hands, one is utterly distracted by focussing their mind on the virtual reality experience of phone calling. No cites. Mythbusters did a show once on this very topic and they found that handheld talking was slightly _better_ than handsfree, which was a complete surprise to me. That said, even hands-free talking is distracting: I was once talking to my husband and kids on the phone, driving roads I knew _extremely_ well, and missed my highway exit. I don’t think I’d have missed something jumping out in front of me, but the concept of making sure what exit I needed to take was apparently not something my brain considered important. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/33 "2017-04-01T20:07:30Z")
This story from 2007 was the first time I heard of a mass casualty resulting from texting. In this case, it was the teenage driver who was texting and collided with a cement truck, resulting in a fire so intense, authorities weren’t even sure that dental records could be used to identify some of the victims. :eek: > **[Texting to blame for crash that killed 5 teens?](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19764563)** > > Text messages were sent and received on a 17-year-old driver’s cell phone moments before the sport utility vehicle slammed head-on into a truck, killing her and four other recent high school graduates, police said. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/34 "2017-04-01T21:19:06Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > This is not an accident, it is mass murder. Driving drunk or distracted is like playing with a loaded gun. Exactly. An accident is a blowout or a deer running out in front of the car or a tree branch falling on your windshield. :mad: I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the 13 individuals from First Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas, who were killed. [Here](http://blackchristiannews.com/2017/03/family-and-friends-remember-lives-and-faith-of-13-victims-in-texas-church-bus-crash/)are some pictures and details about the people (no pictures of crash). ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/35 "2017-04-01T21:53:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There’s a difference between “When will you get to the office?” vs. “I have the client on speakerphone, I need you to explain the marketing campaign”. We’re discussing the difference between hands-free and hand-held. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/36 "2017-04-01T23:28:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s been illegal to T&D in CA for years, but that doesn’t seem to stop anyone. It’s about as well obeyed as speed limits. And it’s not just teenagers. It’s all demographics. Yep. It would be nice to believe that it’s just “those kids,” but all sorts of people do this. I see it every day, from stop lights to surface streets to the freeways. > [@Asuka](#): > > If people won’t stop constantly texting at movies they’re paying $12 to see I don’t see what else is going to stop them. Massive fines. And i mean really big. People will whine, because UNTIL you actually slam your car into a pole or a pedestrian, texting doesn’t seem like a very big deal. But if that’s the only way to stop people, then it’s what we need to do. The thing about texting is that it’s never important enough to justify the increased risk. Most texts people get are not about incredibly important things, and an even greater percentage of texts that people get, even if they ARE important, are not time-sensitive enough that they must be answered immediately. And, on the rare occasions where a text IS important enough that it absolutely has to be read and answered right now, then it’s also important enough to pull your car over to the side of the road. There is, i believe, simply no excuse for doing it, and i’d be happy with high three-figure, escalating to four-figure fines for repeat offenders. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/37 "2017-04-01T23:39:16Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > I think culturally, t&d-ing is seen as one of those “benign” crimes like torrenting movies or something. A paradigm shift in this attitude is needed, really drive it fucking home that multitasking while operating thousands of pounds of machinery at high velocity is asinine as it sounds. > > Have PSAs of famous motorsports celebs saying “I can’t text and drive simultaneously. What the fuck makes you think YOU can?” I think what’s necessary is 1. to outlaw all distractions during driving 2. Emphasize and teach during driver’s ed. 3. Run a massive campaign by the cops to control all cars and leave a hefty fine (maybe 100$) for each instance of distraction. It’s not just that people don’t get why it’s dangerous, is that they don’t care because they aren’t punished. Obviously, if the police don’t take it seriously (compared to drunk driving or speed traps), why should the drivers? (Lax drivers ed. probably contributes to it. - Finland has changed their drivers ed. with a simulated accident, and accident rates dropped). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/38 "2017-04-01T23:40:32Z")
“The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature approved a statewide ban in 2011 but it [was vetoed](https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/04/01/truck-driver-that-hit-bus-killing-13-was-texting-while-driving-says-witness.html) by then-Gov. Rick Perry, who characterized such prohibitions as government micromanagement and said educating drivers was the key to deterrence.” Whew! At least none of the dead were exposed to government micromanagement. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/39 "2017-04-02T01:04:54Z")
Thats what I love about the Pit. 49% of Americans admit to texting while driving. Reading this thread you would think that not single SDMB ever TD’d. EVER. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483/40 "2017-04-02T01:09:37Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Thats what I love about the Pit. 49% of Americans admit to texting while driving. Reading this thread you would think that not single SDMB ever TD’d. EVER. Yeah! Totally! What kind of an asshole _wouldn’t_ text while driving, amiright! 😉 Freebird!!! 🆒 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-idiots-learn-not-to-text-and-drive-texas-bus-accident/783483.md?page=3)