“The Governors Highway Safety Association had come out against new laws banning texting behind the wheel on the grounds that such legislation would prove impossible to enforce. “Highway safety laws are only effective if they can be enforced and if the public believes they will be ticketed for not complying,” GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey Jr. said in July.

But as more officials raise the alarm about the number of accidents caused by distracted drivers, the GHSA has reversed its thinking. It points out that laws enforcing seat belt use and drunk driving laws also faced challenges, but are now common practice.”

UT:

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.”

AK:

Texting behind the wheel is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and one year in jail. It is the same first-time offense punishment as driving under the influence — although DUIs have minimum sentencing requirements and the texting law does not.

If a driver hurts or kills someone or causes a crash that kills someone, the offense is ratcheted up to a felony.

I’ve said for years that people are so grumpy and distracted because they hate driving. It’s a boring time-suck. In most cases, bicycling only takes a few minutes longer but it’s quality time — getting exercise, connecting with the community, seeing things you’d miss in a car, and constantly moving rather than sitting in traffic.

“Excellent to see, once again, our lawmakers are creating laws to protect us from our own stupidity and incompetence and protect us from ourselves!”

Reading that, the idea popped into my head:

“Americans Don’t Enjoy Driving!”

I mean, if you enjoyed doing something, wouldn’t you PAY ATTENTION to it?

Americans enjoy Traveling In Cars, NOT Driving.

Hey America! Want to enjoy driving again? Drive a bicycle!

Boys, there’s no need to be hostile or insulting in your posts. It contributes nothing to the discussion and significantly weakens your credibility.

Lisa put “bike lane” in quotes because it is an undesignated lane. It’s really too narrow in many places to be considered a bike lane… but most cyclists think any space to the right of a white line is a bike lane. Running against traffic on a shoulder or bike lane is in it is NOT a problem. Most runners prefer asphalt to concrete and because they run against traffic they can see if there is anyone coming. They usually vacate the pavement for cyclists. I see no reason to be territorial about that space.