Councilor would ban texting while driving in Boston

By adamg on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 1:04pm

City Councilor John Tobin (West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain), will ask the council tomorrow to look at making like the MBTA and ban texting while driving.

A ban would require approval of the state Legislature to go into effect.

Tobin, who has paid for "Slow Down, Boston" signs for his constituents' lawns, says that while texting is a wonderful thing - he admits to sending dozens of text messages a day - texters are a menace to themselves and others behind the wheel:

Texting while driving severely impedes a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Distracted drivers make the roads more dangerous for everyone. It's time for us to take the necessary steps to protect motorists and pedestrians while they are traveling in the city’s neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods:

Boston

Topics:

Driving

Free tagging:

John Tobin

Ad:

Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

Didn't Brookline try a similar ordinance with cellphones

By roadman on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 4:23pm.

awhile back, but had to drop it because it violated state law?

And no, I'm not advocating that texting while driving is a good thing and should not be banned.

why can't we get a headsets-only law

By rob on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 5:41pm.

Like the other civilized states? Is it because the cell phone companies spent so much on making the Big Dig a four-bar death trap?

In my day....

By anon on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 8:35pm.

OK, allow me to weigh in here from The Time Before Cell Phones. I hate to sound like an old grandpa or something ("in my day...."), but I simply MUST.

It astonishes me that this is even a discussion! I am still trying to get over the people blabbing on their cell phones while driving (usually blazing through a rotary without so much as slowing down), and now I find out that people are TEXTING while driving?!!! Yes, I've known it for a while now, but it doesn't make it any less ridiculous. The amount of time a person has to take his eyes off the road, never mind his hands, is just too much for texting even to be considered acceptable...BY ANYONE!

And yes, I'll say it..."IN MY DAY..." we didn't even have cell phones. And I think therein lies the problem. There's a whole generation of people growing up now and using cell phones who have always had them. It never crosses their mind that instantaneous communication isn't possible, or even necessary. Really. Pull the hell over. I'd like to be able to get my 6 year old (yes, I had him at age 43) home in one piece.

That was my rant; thanks for listening. :-)

While we're at it -

By BellZ on Wed, 10/07/2009 - 6:39am.

Can we also please ban driving while eating ham sandwiches with gooey extra innards? Truly, it is just as dangerous.

JOIN FB Group Urging Ban on Texting While Driving

By Mark K on Sat, 10/10/2009 - 1:57pm.

Please join the effort to BAN texting while driving. Help Boston become a national leader in improving safety on Boston's streets.

Please go here to join our FB group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=149722612429

Councilor John Tobin filed an order on October 7, to ban texting while driving in Boston. The State legislature is dragging its feet. Senate Pres. Murray announced that she had no interest in such a bill last January. Action by the City Council is our chance to improve safety on Boston's streets.

You are out there driving. You KNOW how bad it is. Please contact your city councilor to ask that he/she support Tobin's legislation. You can find out who your councilor is here:

www.boston.gov/myneighborhood

For more information:

www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO126318/

Please contact the Boston City Council by going here:
www.boston.gov/myneighborhood

Indicate your address and they will tell you how to contact your councilor.

Use this message or (better) create your own:

Dear Councilor,

I write in support of Councilor Tobin's legislation banning texting while driving in Boston. This is a serious public safety issue which has a solution that is simple and affordable. By banning texting, Boston will take the lead nationally in improving the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

Thank you for your consideration. I would appreciate hearing from you on this issue.

Best wishes,