What’s Up In Arizona? Do They Like Drinking and Driving Too? | Seattle Car Accident Lawyer

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Some things defy logic. How can anybody be opposed to a texting while driving ban? Don’t state lawmakers want to decrease distracted driving, reduce car crashes, and generally make the roads safer? As a Seattle lawyer who represents victims of Washington car accidents against insurance companies, I would hope that lawmakers in every state would get behind bans on texting while driving.

Unfortunately, for the second year in a row Arizona has been unable to pass a bill that would band texting while driving in their state. The bill would have prohibited reading, writing and sending text messages or emails while driving. The bill would have still allowed individuals to talk on their phones while driving. Even though it seems like a no brainer good law, the bill did not pass.

Both sides of the argument were present once again. On one side the supporters reiterated the dangers of texting while driving. They also said the bill would save lives and allow parents to tell their children that texting while driving is not only extremely dangerous but also illegal. While the opponents did agree about the dangers involved, they did not want to pass a bill that regulated how people live their lives. They added that police officers are already allowed to cite reckless driving if they catch some texting while driving.

One specific opponent, Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said that it is just as dangerous to reach into the bottom of your “big gulp” and “fish around for the last piece of ice.” He then said we don’t have, or want, legislation that bans such a thing and other similar distracting activities.

It is unfortunate that this ban failed to pass as it would have made the Arizona communities safer places to drive. While opponents may have valid arguments at times, in my opinion they are missing a huge factor. Those most likely to text and drive are teenagers and young adults. Those are the very same people that would take a texting while driving ban more seriously because of the feared police repurcussions. Frankly, i’m tired of the argument that you can’t legislate morality. That is total BS. In our country we legislate morality all the time but people will still trot out that tired saying when it benefits them. Hopefully the opponents of the Arizona texting ban come to their senses and change their minds soon when they realize how many lives they can save and car accidents that they can prevent.

Please do not use your cell phones while driving and check out the website, Teens Against Distracted Driving.

This information is provided by www.straighttalklaw.com, where you can order free books on Washington auto accidents, auto insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by Jason Epstein and his law practice Premiere Law Group in Seattle, Washington.