Texting in Utah penalized like drunk driving

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Good! I hope other states DO follow suit, SOON! This is dangerous behavior while behind the wheel.

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I agree, They should include talking on the phone. Hands free devices should be mandatory nationwide.

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LOGAN, Utah — In most states, if somebody is texting behind the wheel and causes a crash that injures or kills someone, the penalty can be as light as a fine.

Utah is much tougher.

After a crash here that killed two scientists — and prompted a dogged investigation by a police officer and local victim’s advocate — Utah passed the nation’s toughest law to crack down on texting behind the wheel. Offenders now face up to 15 years in prison.

The new law, which took effect in May, penalizes a texting driver who causes a fatality as harshly as a drunken driver who kills someone. In effect, a crash caused by such a multitasking motorist is no longer considered an “accident” like one caused by a driver who, say, runs into another car because he nodded off at the wheel. Instead, such a crash would now be considered inherently reckless.

“It’s a willful act,” said Lyle Hillyard, a Republican state senator and a big supporter of the new measure. “If you choose to drink and drive or if you choose to text and drive, you’re assuming the same risk.”

The Utah law represents a concrete new response in an evolving debate among legislators around the country about how to reduce the widespread practice of multitasking behind the wheel — a topic to be discussed at a national conference about the dangers of distracted driving that is being organized by the Transportation Department for this fall.

Studies show that talking on a cellphone while driving is as risky as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level — generally the standard for drunken driving — and that the risk of driving while texting is at least twice that dangerous. Research also shows that many people are aware that the behavior is risky, but they assume others are the problem.

No brainer-its willful negligence to text while driving and should be treated at least as harshly as drunk driving.I think they should give a common sense test to new drivers along with the written and skills tests.

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Good for them. There is NO ONE or NOTHING you can text that is so important you have to do it while driving. I think you should permantly loose you license if caught doing this.

A lot of people need to permanently lose their licenses.

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Yes. My Wife went to college the other day, and instead of starting class she listened to her professor lecture them about talking on the phone while driving. It appears that on his way to work / class that morning he was broadsided by an 18 year old girl that ran the light, thankfully he was ok.

She got out of the car after the accident and said "Oh, sorry I diddn't see you.. i was texting." Like it was no big deal at all.. wtf?

HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE? WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ADMIT THAT? I CAN'T BELIEVE THE IGNORANCE GOING AROUND TODAY!!!!

Good for Utah.. I'm glad. I'm not sure how i feel about talking on the phone, I know that people like us who drive professionally are usually capable of it, and because we are away for weeks at a time and the nature of our job sometimes it's almost necessary.. And it sure gets boring out there while driving long distances...

But i'm not sure why people NEED to talk on the phone so badly to someone that they are probably driving home to as they are talking, what's so damn important that these people need to be on the phone 24/7? I don't get it.. You can't even walk through the grocery store anymore without some idiot wandering around in there on the phone... really, can't it wait?

I'm all about safety, but this is undoubtedly going to end up being one of those things were the people who don't overly use the privilege and are careful with it and do it sparingly are probably going to suffer... Oh well.

Well, if they did that, at least 3/4 of the folks would be denied their license! Not a bad idea at all.

There has got to be something in the air, or the water, here in Utah. These folks just don't "get it" when it comes to ANYTHING involving safety. I guess they all figure they are already "saved" so they can do anything they want.

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I replied,"nothing."

She said, "but you did that yesterday."

I said, "right, but I haven't finished it."