Well, it’s not that extreme, but according to NetworkWorld, the state of Washington has banned texting while driving. Drivers should concentrate on driving and not be preoccupied with talking on cell phones, or even worse texting.

A major weakness in the Washington law is that it allows for enforcement of the no-texting-while-driving provision only when the driver has already committed another traffic offense. Moreover, the paltry fine of $101 will mean little to the Crackberry-obsessed businesspeople who consider their need to communicate while cruising the fast lane more important than the safety of those around them.

This law is certainly going in the right direction, but I really think it should be expanded as in the United States, 40,000 to 43,000 traffic fatalities occur each year. When texting, drivers lose the ability to follow the IPDE (Identify Potential Hazards, Predict the Actions of Others, Decide on a Plan of Action, and Execute) process. Drivers not only have visual problems by not keeping their eyes on the road, but they also have serious problems in maintaining control of their vehicle as both hands are not on the wheel. Remember that a motor vehicle is nearly a ton of metal and is a deadly weapon in the hands of a person who does not drive defensively. (I’m sure by now you probably have guessed that I’ve just taken a drivers safety course…) So please be safe, don’t text and drive!

Technorati Tags: Washington, DWT, Don’t Text and Drive, Law, Ban, Just Another Mobile Monday