You may want to check out David Giacalone's web blog regarding Susan Savage's ban on driving while texting. Click on the link at the end of this post for the full article:




susan savage gets something right: banning DWT
Filed under: Schenectady Synecdoche — David Giacalone @ 6:38 pm
.. We’ve probably spent more than enough time on Wendy Savage today.  In contrast to all that good press, there’s another Ms. Savage who’s has gotten nothing but bad reviews here at f/k/a the past couple of years (see here, and there): She’s Susan E. Savage, the Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.  But,, it had to happen: Chairwoman Savage has proposed a local law that actually makes good sense.  Indeed, we supported just such a law for the entire State about 5 weeks ago here at f/k/a.
To wit: If Susan Savage gets her way, “Texting while driving could soon be banned in Schenectady County” (CBS 6 News, October 23, 200................http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/10/23/susan-savage-gets-something-right-banning-dwt/

Instead of long delayed County cuts we get more stupid unenforceable County laws. Another new low.

      Like law enforcement here doesn't have more pressing issues?  Focus like a laser on the bloated County budget and slashing the 13% County tax hike not another idiotic nanny law to pull $150 out of our empty pockets. Another problem solved that never existed. Board of Supervisors NOW! Metrograft Audit NOW! Ray resign in disgrace-NOW!

Well it is OK but maybe could have waited another few weeks so they coud tackle the budget crisis? No? Is that an attack?

Isn't the courthouse too small now......those folks and their phones wont fit......who are they kidding.....I say let the insurance companies fight out the
who is to blame.....the lawyers will love it and we sure as hell pay a hefty sum to the 'insurers'(oxymoron--rates went up after9/11, obviously overspent
or over hedged).......

Quoted Text

Quoted from benny salami:
... Focus like a laser on the bloated County budget and slashing the 13% County tax hike not another idiotic nanny law to pull $150 out of our empty pockets. ...

Benny,

Perhaps this legislation by Savage and her Democratic majority is their planned approach to close the
$10M shortfall in the 2009 County Budget, $150 at a time.

I agree with you that this proposal by Savage, though worthwhile, is nothing but a diversion from the important business of the county taxpaying residents.  I guess when you have nothing else of substance, you turn to feel good legislation.

this whole thing is dangerous with the phones and pagers and that. these kids should be banned from having any of that there. You people dont get it that the person is trying to protect the kids and you still want to cause the trouble

Quoted from 191

this whole thing is dangerous with the phones and pagers and that. these kids should be banned from having any of that there. You people dont get it that the person is trying to protect the kids and you still want to cause the trouble

Here's the thing,,,they need to learn that just because something isn't illegal that it is righteous or okay.......if there are fender benders
on the rise due to cellphone crap then let the insurance companies fight it out without the government----that's what they are for....
make them work for their pay.....as for folks being killed,,,,well, there's not much we can do other than pray.....it's illegal for minors
to drink and it is illegal for anyone to drive drunk......

they only legislate to posture or to protect interests/investments..........(both parties)

we need laws or we become like the animals sender

Quoted from 191

we need laws or we become like the animals sender

Agree....laws are the whips for the wrong......but, where is the foundation of knowledge, discernment, wisdom......???? buried
somewhere????

I'd like to think our political leaders are willing to act (and the populace will support them), when irresponsible people are behaving in a way that endangers the life and property of themselves and others. Until insurers can raise people from the dead or cure spinal injury, I'd like government to act.   As far as not having a budget yet, I've always figured Democrats could walk and chew gum at the same time, even if the other parties can't.

Ok...so IF someone does get caught 'texting', what is the punishment? Or will it just be another plea bargin?

Bumble, I think a violator should get a hefty fine and maybe lose some points.  If under 18, perhaps an automatic suspension would be another penalty. And, if you cause an accident while texting, there should be jail time.  

Remember back only a few years when only a few people even had cellphones in their cars, and they used them rarely?  Now we have non-ending phoning while driving by a large part of the population, and Chrysler is building new cars (plus aftermarket gear) to make every car a wifi hot spot, so that the driver can do everything at the wheel you can do at your home or office computer.  We need to speak out loud and clear -- driving is too important and too dangerous for all this highly-distracting multi-tasking.   Since individuals won't use common sense and common care, the rest of us need to set the rules and enforce them.

Just look around while you're driving and half of the people on the road with you are on their cell phones, that's against the law which isn't being enforced.

Although I agree with you in theory, I find that it will be almost impossible to enforce this law. I happen to know first hand, people who text while driving. And again, although I agree with you that it is dangerous, these people text with their cell phone on the seat next to them. So it would become virtually impossible for anyone to see or know if someone is texting or not.

I just personally think it will be one of those un-enforceable laws. And that there are many more pressing issues facing Schenectady county that needs to be addressed. JMHO

Good point David!  I believe that our county should start re-testing our elderly drivers, to be sure they are safe to be on the road.  It's pretty much a consensus in the medical industry that as we age, our reflexes and response time become slower, along with poorer vision and hand eye coordination.  And that some of those in the elderly population have abilities that are impaired to that similar to drunk drivers, due to the natural aging process.  Statistically speaking, I would have to assume that elderly drivers are as much of a hazard on the roads and those who text.  

If Susan Savage is truly concerned about public safety on our county roads, she should tackle the issue of unsafe seniors on the roads.  I'm sure Ms. Savage has the courage to address this real and statistically substantiated problem of unsafe elderly drivers.  An article in the USA Today finds that drivers over the age of 85 have a 4 times greater chance of an accident that teen drivers, and are involved in 3 fatal crashes a day nationally.  And 15.4% of Schenectady County residents are 65 or older, looks like an impending crisis.  http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-02-older-drivers-usat1a_N.htm

But, let me get back to reality, and give the real reason this real issue concerning public safety will never be touched.  That is because seniors show up to the polls in force on election day, and no politician would ever touch that issue.  So we end up with this resume building proposal by Ms. Savage, giving her campaign mailer an extra claim reading " Ms Savage protects you on the roads by passing legislation banning texting while driving".  When there is actually no evidence that texting and driving is so hazardous that it reaches the point of legislating a ban.  

Just another example of the uselessness of our county legislators.