lostcause64

January 27, 2010 at 1:08pm

In all honesty, I don't have a problem with this new law, but it's just another example of the double standards set for professional drivers vs the rest of the traffic. I'm IT now, but in the 90's I was an over the road truck driver, running thru 48 states and Canada. Something as serious as distracted driving, no matter the weight of the vehicle, is the same as driving while impaired or drunk. People end up just as dead when hit by a 2 ton car or a 40 ton truck. Just like a plane crash, because it doesn't happen as often as it does with a car, it's bigger news. Have you ever had to take a roadside drug test? In some states, truckers do. Like your radar/laser detector? In some places, truckers go to jail for having one whether it's hooked up or not. Ever wonder why those big double skidmarks happen? In too many cases, it's because trucks are restricted to the right lane for some fool to go racing up and jump in front of the truck, then slam on the brakes, forcing the truck to do anything but hit that car if possible, including get themselves killed, all because there might be a kid in the backseat of that car that doesn't deserve to die because they have no control over the idiot they are riding with. Now, I don't disagree with most of the stricter laws and I'm not saying all professional drivers are angels in any way, but most drivers out there will do anything to avoid an accident and keep other drivers safe. Enforcement issues aside, those more restrictive laws should be in place for anyone driving, not just targeting drivers that have to be professionals every second they are behind the wheel and held to a higher standard than everyone else.  If you really want to make the roads safer with new laws, how about requiring every person that is getting or renewing their license to spend 2-4 hours in the passenger seat of an 18 wheeler while driving around town. You'd be amazed what you see happening around you, and in some cases to you, from up there. You'd also get a new respect for what a professional driver has to go thru every day while just trying to make a living.

John

Have you ever wondered why intelligence can normally be found in an individual, but runs screaming in terror from a group? Though, there are exceptions...

lunchbox73

January 27, 2010 at 12:43pm

As a libertarian I cringe at how ban-happy our society is becoming. Once again, we're trying to protect people from their own stupidity. How soon before a ban on eating in the car? Do you know how distracting a really messy cheeseburger is?

popstop785

January 27, 2010 at 12:23pm

Agreed, they should have done that a long time ago. Trucking and bus driving is their job. While they are on the job they should not be texting anyways. And it is a safety risk... a person behind the wheel of such a large vehicle should keep their eyes on the road at all times (every driver should anyways) because that vehicle could cause a lot of damage to a lot of people and things if an accident happens.

Trooper_One

January 27, 2010 at 11:47am

Should've done that a long time ago...  while at it, bus drivers and others in the same group shouldn't be allowed to read books, newspapers, or do sudoku puzzles.

darkstar09

January 27, 2010 at 11:41am

They know that they can't catch everyone so they step up the punishment for the ones that they CAN catch. $80 fine and 20 demerit points. (100 demerit points = loss of licence and points aren't removed for 3 years)

1337Goose

January 27, 2010 at 10:04am

Operating a mobile handheld device while behind the wheel is already banned here in Ontario, Canada. 

~Goose

I Jedi

January 27, 2010 at 9:25am

I'm sorry, but I truly do not see the problem here, does anybody else? It's called multi-tasking here, people. If you cannot due it then due not try it... PERIOD. Oh, and for all you consious-individuals out there, it's always best never to text whilst driving...