Texting while driving? Think again.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Shortly after you read this – and let’s hope you’re not reading it while you’re driving your car – you will no longer be able to text or tweet or type on a laptop computer or any other electronic device while you drive.

Oh, woe is us.

The law against such silly behavior goes into effect in New Hampshire on Jan. 1, as it does in Oregon and Illinois.

It’s about time.

Of course, it is still legal to talk on your cell phone while you drive, but sanity doesn’t always rush into the state Legislature; sometimes it has to come in on little cat feet, i.e., slower than it should.

Still, this new law is a good start.

See, here’s the thing, kids: Once upon a time, it was absolutely impossible to text, or even to talk on the phone, while you were driving your car. Hard to believe, we know, but true nonetheless. Why? Because such devices hadn’t been invented yet.

So, you know what people did? They waited until they had gotten out of their cars and they called people from home or from a pay phone (a what?), or wrote them a letter. Sure, they had to wait a little bit, but was it really so bad?

There is no doubt that cell phones and texting devices are convenient. They allow us to communicate from places where, in the past, we couldn’t, and that’s great.

But what’s the problem with pulling off the road first? Why do we insist upon driving at 65 mph and texting at the same time? Hey, there’s a rest stop not too far away. What’s 10 or 15 minutes more before you make contact?

And the good thing about texting from a rest stop? It’s unlikely you’ll die while doing it. Oh, we know the argument you’ve got ready: You’ve been texting for eons while driving and you’re not dead yet.

But some people are. We’d ask them this question: “Knowing what you know now – i.e. that you’re dead – if you had it to do all over again, would you still text and drive?”

But we can’t ask them. Because they’re dead.

But you’re not and that’s great because if you were dead, it’s somewhat unlikely that you’d be reading this and that would be sad. So we’re glad you’re alive and we’re glad that the state has taken a step that might keep you alive. Yes, we admit it: A ban upon texting while driving will, in some way, protect us against ourselves. Oh, woe is the Constitution.

But here’s the thing: Even if you could find a right to text in either the state or U.S. Constitution (go ahead, try) there would be nothing that would give you the right to text, drive and endanger the lives of others. Because that, really, is what it’s about: You text and drive, you endanger others. Period. And you have no right to do that.

So, embrace the new law, and find a nice rest stop on the highway or a quiet spot on a dirt road and text home. Tell them you’re on your way and you’re quite all right. Then put away your texting device, and go upon your merry way.