Published: July 09, 2009 04:08 pm      

Texting while driving

Law enforcement crackdown welcomed

Texting and driving is a dangerous and unacceptable combination — plain and simple. That’s why we welcome a new law in Virginia banning texting while driving. While the new law is a secondary offense — meaning a motorist must be stopped for a primary violation first such as speeding or crossing the center line — those caught texting or e-mailing while driving in the Commonwealth can now be fined $20 for a first offense up to $50 for a second offense if they are pulled over for another primary violation.

While you do have to be stopped first for a primary offense, catching a motorist who is texting while driving won’t be that difficult for law enforcement officials. In most instances, those who are texting while driving will normally swerve in their lane or cross over a double solid line, according to Sgt. Michael Conroy, of the Virginia State Police in Wytheville.

Conroy said motorists driving in the Commonwealth need to have their eyes on the road and their hands on the steering wheel.

We agree.

Any distraction can cause an accident. And the more distractions drivers face, the more likely they are to be involved in an accident. Trying to drive a vehicle while sending a text message on a cell phone is a distraction. A big and unnecessary distraction. And one that could lead to a serious — if not fatal — crash.

While texting is more common among young drivers, the new law in Virginia applies to motorists of all ages.

In West Virginia, new rules beginning today target beginner and intermediate drivers. The new law in the Mountain State bans intermediate drivers and those with instruction permits from using handheld cell phones and texting.

In West Virginia, beginning drivers, also called Level 1 drivers, are motorists with an instruction permit who have passed a written test and can drive with an adult driver who is 21 years of age or older in the passenger seat. An intermediate driver, or a Level 2, has passed a road skills test with an examiner riding along.

We welcome the crackdown on texting while driving in both Virginia and West Virginia.

It is critical that all motorists keep their eyes on the road, and their hands on the steering wheeling. No one should be texting while driving.