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October 19, 2009

In Our View: Texting ban should apply to all drivers

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Mon Oct 19, 2009, 08:10 PM CDT

The City Council of Webb City is poised to make the same mistake as the state of Missouri.

Earlier this year, the state passed a law barring anyone 21 years of age or younger from texting while driving. Even though plenty of older people text just as much as youths, the law specifically targeted residents not yet of age.

We’re not decided on whether texting while driving should be banned. But if we’re going to ban it, we should do it for all drivers. Our youth editorial board members said that over the summer, and we agree with them.

Missouri’s law embraced the stereotypical notion that teens are hopelessly plugged into their cell phones, furiously pressing keys without regard for their surroundings. The truth of the matter is that it takes only a second during one text message to become too distracted for driving.

We understand that younger drivers don’t have the driving experience that older ones do. But texting takes enough attention that it negates any benefits of experience.

We agree with Webb City Councilman Don Darby. He said that he disagreed with a texting ban that targets only youths. Darby and Councilman Jerry Fisher both call for an ordinance that bans texting for all drivers, and we support that notion of equality.

Whether Webb City should approve it is another matter: Police Chief Carl Francis said it would be a tough law to enforce. We’re also unsure if this ordinance will make it that far — there are a number of legal questions to be answered, including whether a city ordinance could pre-empt a state statute.

But the most glaring thing — the inexplicable inequality between those over and under 21 — shouldn’t be allowed to exist. Webb City shouldn’t waste time with such a law.

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