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Southeast Missourian
Editorial

Do we need laws to replace common sense?

Friday, March 13, 2009

Some motorists do the strangest things when they're behind the steering wheel. They smoke and occasionally drop hot ashes into their laps. They eat messy cheeseburgers and spill condiments on their clothing. They drink beverages from throwaway cups so large that their view out the windshield is blocked. They apply makeup at intersections. They reach for items in the back seat while going 70 mph on a highway. They talk on cell phones and sometimes get so involved in their conversations that they pay too little attention to traffic conditions. They send text messages while guiding their vehicles through congested traffic.

All of these activities by motorists are legal in Missouri, although the accidents that sometime occur can result in traffic citations.

Fourteen states plus the District of Columbia have some sort of law regarding the hand-held use of cell phones while driving, either banning the practice outright or allowing local jurisdictions to pass regulations. Eight states plus D.C. ban text messaging while driving. Some states restrict cell phone usage by school bus drivers. Others have regulations on using cell phones by novice drivers. In some cases these cell-phone laws are primary offenses, meaning officers can make a traffic stop when they see the law being violated.

The Missouri Legislature is currently considering a ban on texting while driving. Supporters point to collision statistics. Opponents say the government already controls too many of the personal lifestyle choices we make.

It's too bad some motorists don't exercise good judgment about safe driving. How much regulation should be imposed is a dicey topic -- except for families who have lost a loved one in an accident that might have been avoided.

Many telephone customers have enjoyed fewer disruptions in their lives thanks to no-call lists. Now some states, including Missouri, are either extending or considering no-call lists to include cell-phone numbers. As more and more of us rely totally on cell phones, having the option of blocking annoying calls makes sense.

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