Last Thursday, a new law went into effect making texting while driving illegal in Nebraska for all ages. Â Previously anyone under the age of 18 was not allowed to text while driving.
The law prohibits the use of a handheld wireless communication device to read, manually type, or send a written communication while operating a vehicle that is moving.
This new law, is a second offense in the state of Nebraska in that the driver must be committing another crime, such as speeding to be pulled over and ticketed for this.  This is the same way that the seatbelt law is set up in Nebraska.
Now this new law is a long time coming, and even though I text while driving (not anymore), I wonder why some other things have not been deemed “illegal” while operating a motor vehicle.
- Eating while driving: This has always been interesting to me. How many of us have tried to scarf down a Big Mac or eat a bowl of Wendy’s chili while driving down the highway?  (Yes, I know someone who attempted and successfully ate a bowl of chili while driving.) I would find that this is just as much of a distraction while driving as it is to text.
- Reading print: It is scary how many times I have driven down I-80 while watching someone read a magazine or newspaper while driving their car at 80mpg. Â I know that this is more dangerous and distracting as compared to texting.
- Age: This is a touchy subject for many. I know that it can be difficult to hand over your drivers license after going through so much in your life. Now, I’m 20, and some day, I will be the age that I find so many people are that are causing more problems on the road, then those that are texting. Â Just the other day I witnessed an older lady squeeze her way into a parking lot and damage a van next to her.
- Changing clothing: << Enough said.
- Phone Calls: First off, I know there have been advancements in technology that allow for safer phone calls while driving, but so many have not adapted these techniques and pay more attention to who they are talking to and what they are saying, rather then the road they are driving on.
I am sure there are plenty more activities that drivers are doing while driving that I could list, but I hope I made my point. I agree with the new texting law, but aren’t there other things we should be looking at also?
What is your opinion? I would love to hear it. What are some laws in your state that may be different in other states? Â Leave your comment below!
Honestly, I believe it depends on the person. Some people can successfully multitask and some cannot. You must know your limits and whether or not you can do something safely.
As with all things people believe they can do things they sometimes can't. Therefore we have preventable accidents. It's like the old saying, "There are three sides to any argument, your side, my side, and the right side." Laws are the right side, you may not like them and you don't have to abide by them, but you will have to suffer the consequences by breaking them.
I was driving home last week, and some kid yelled at while I was texting at a stop light: "You know you're not supposed to do that." And I kind of just laughed and said yeah but we all do it anyways. Hard habit to break, definitley. Next thing you know, they'll take CD players out of cars. OOOOH better not change that CD, your eyes get taken off the road!
Actually, according to the law, you can text while at the stop light. It says the vehicle has to be moving.
It is a mortal sin if you drive and text all at the same time. What if there were kids at the back, or Granny or a boyfriend/ girlfriend sitting beside you? Think about it. You could just answer them on a pit stop anyway.