New Braunfels TX 3/30 bus accident?

[bioburner]

It was big news this spring and having went back to MN for the summer have not heard much more about the texting idiot hitting the church bus and killing 13.
Has TX started to get better laws now to try and stem the cell phone plague? Was a dead issue before the accident.

 

[DBMaster]

A texting was driving ban was passed in the last legislative session here. It goes into effect on 9/1. I am not confident that it will change much other than giving the police more excuses to stop people. Time will tell.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
A texting was driving ban was passed in the last legislative session here. It goes into effect on 9/1. I am not confident that it will change much other than giving the police more excuses to stop people. Time will tell.


OK has had a texting and driving ban for a year now and I don't know of a single person who has been pulled over and ticketed for it. I see people text and drive all the time.

They just need to enact harsher punishment for DISTRACTED DRIVING. Doesn't matter if it's a phone or a book or a newspaper. Can't keep your eyes on the road? Don't drive!

 

[bioburner]

MN had a campaign this summer to go after distracted drivers and was handing out tickets.

I agree that when driving a couple tons of wheeled armor ones attention needs to be on the road or parking lot. I about got hammered twice yesterday by parties on the phone while they were driving in the Walmart lot. There is both kids as well as a dense amount of cars trying to get out of slots.

Going to keep looking for a air horn setup. Lets see if they can still hold a conversation while getting blasted with 150db

 

[DBMaster]

My take, also, is that if you can't dole out the "supplemental tax bills" from a parked car on the highway shoulder there won't be much enforcement action on the texting ban. Those who generally obey laws may stop, but I don't anticipate significant improvement. It just makes people feel better that SOMETHING was done.

 

[CT8]

The no texting/cell phone use doesn't seem to stop people from using their devices. There are lots of people using them when I drive around.

 

[Nyogtha]

San Antonio has laws on hands-free only inside city limits unless you're using / adjusting a navigational device / app, and a complete cell phone use ban inside school zones. I haven't seen any specific enforcement of either firsthand but understand it's a minimum $250 if you're busted. Plenty of folks texting along US 281 while they decide which lane they want for example.

 

[Blinker]

Actually there will be a state wide ban on the use of cellular devices starting in either September or October of this year. Some cities in Texas already had this law but our Governor wanted a state wide law so that all of Texas is on the same page.

I am 100% on board with NO cell phone usage while driving. Pull into a parking lot if you need use it.

 

[funflyer]

The problem with texting laws is the fine is a joke in most states so LE doesn't bother to waste their time stopping people for the violation. I'm all for making the fines as high as they are for speeding. Pay a few $300 tickets for texting while driving, and you might decide to wise up and quit doing it.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Texting can be far more dangerous than speeding. So can other distracting activities. The ticket issued should reflect that. If it were me I'd start at $1,000. That still would not stop the problem but the attitude adjustments would make a difference. The word would spread, fast.

A doctor riding his bicycle to work in the marked bicycle lane on an already wide road was killed with a lady coming up behind him was changing a CD and hit him dead center at 50 mph. He had a wife and two little children and now he is gone in the prime of his life because of that.

Driving a motor vehicle on public roads is a serious task.

 

[Brons2]

Changing a CD? Who still does that?

I uploaded my whole music collection to Google Play Music, I have 6000+ songs on there and I'm only a little over 10% full. You can upload a max of 50,000 songs.

Then, I can start my music with voice commands. I make sure the car radio is set to Bluetooth Audio before leaving the parking lot. Then "OK Google, play xyz yada" and it does it without taking my eyes off the road.

 

[Brons2]

Ok, back on topic.

There has been no news since June 29th when he was charged with 13 counts of intoxication manslaughter and jailed. From the time of the accident until the indictment he had been not been jailed, which I'm sure rubbed some people the wrong way.

http://www.khou.com/news/20-year-old-dri...ed-13/453010925

He wasn't just texting, he was high off of pills and pot.