Massachusetts is in line to become the 20th state to pass legislation prohibiting text messaging while driving.
Lawmakers in the Massachusetts House of Representatives are debating a bill that would ban texting while driving and prohibit cell phone use by drivers under 18. The law would also require vision tests for drivers over 75 years of age.
“Texting while driving has become a serious threat to the safety of our roads and drivers,” said Speaker Robert DeLeo in a press release.
“This bill will keep our drivers free of distraction and take needed precautions to identify those at risk of impaired driving.Protecting the safety of our residents is our most important task as elected officials and this bill will do just that.”
Nineteen states have banned texting while driving for all drivers, regardless of age, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Nine states ban text messaging while driving for beginning drivers only.
College of General Studies freshman Lindsay Katz, a Florida native, said she feels confident texting while driving. Florida has no restrictions on cell phone usage while operating any vehicle.
“I think the penalties for breaking the law are harsh,” she said. “You can’t catch everyone who texts while driving.”
CGS freshman Erika Scelfo who is from New York, where texting while driving is banned, said she does not think the potential law would be too strict.
“It’s not on purpose, but it’s hazardous,” she said. “You know when you aren’t paying attention to the road. It’s your fault if you hit them.”
College of Fine Arts freshman Laurel Weatherby said texting while driving is prohibited in her home state of New Hampshire.
“If I ever did text, it was very few times,” she said. “I talk on the phone rather than text.”
College of Arts and Sciences freshman Jessica Xu said her home state of Texas has laws against the usage of cell phones for some drivers. Xu said the penalties for texting while driving should be just as harsh as those in place for drunk driving.
“It’s the same thing &- you are unable to concentrate and pose a danger to others on the road,” she said. “Texting takes attention away from the road because you’re glancing down at your phone.”
Referring to the banning of cell phone usage for drivers under 18, CAS freshman Sarah Tadiri of Worcester said thereshould not be an age qualification regarding the use of cell phones.
“I don’t think it should have anything to do with age,” she said. “It should be all or nothing.”
Metropolitan College sophomore and Massachusetts resident Amanda Szczepanik said shehas texted while driving because shedoesn’t have to look at her phone whenshe doesit.
She said she sees the law as a misplaced priority for the state.
“It shouldn’t be a law because it’s a waste of effort,” she said. “Police have to pull you over instead of the people who are speeding.”
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
