A Massachusetts teenager was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison and loss of his license for 15 years for causing a fatal crash by texting while driving.

Aaron Deveau, 18, was convicted of motor vehicle homicide by texting – the first driver in Massachusetts to face such charges, the Boston Globe reported. Prosecutors said Deveau, who pleaded not guilty, was texting on Feb. 20, 2011, when his vehicle swerved across the center line of a Haverhill, Mass., street and crashed head on into Daniel Bowley’s truck, killing the 55-year-old New Hampshire father of three.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/06/12090348-massachusetts-teen-sentenced-to-prison-for-texting-while-driving?lite

I think this is only the beginning of this kind of thing. Texting while
driving is stupid and in this case so very unfortunate. He is lucky
he didn't get prison for 15 years. He should have I think.

The other day I saw a guy riding his bicycle in city traffic no-handed. He was texting.

Jim.

Well at least there's much less chance of him hurting someone else that way than if he was driving a car

MSU

If this is what it's going to take to get the point across to folks who think it fine, then so be it. I say it's long overdue.

MSU

Excellent.
My son was almost killed by a texting driver. She then Had the balls to sue my sister (her car)and the idiot insurance company settled giving the menace lots of money.

Ethan

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
"Why shouldn't the American people take half my money from me? I took it all from them." - Edward Filene

If I'm driving, I ignore any incoming texts. If I'm driving and I believe a text is vitally important for me to read/respond to, I find a safe place to pull over (e.g. parking lot) so I can read and reply and then I go on my way again. I couldn't imagine trying to type out a text message while piloting a ton of steel at 60mph+ and thinking that I'm completely safe in doing so.

Thats the way to go about it. What Jason Said. You either ignore the texts till you get to your destination or you pull over and answer them.

I do the same as Jason. If any one calls me while I am driving, I let it go until I get to a safe place to pull over. Then I decide to call them back if it is important , if not important I let it go and get back on my way.
Daylilydayzed
Daylilies are the Lord's smiles, new one every day.

Heck most of the time I don't even bother pulling over...I just wait until I get where I'm going.

MSU

Yeah that is the smart thing to do. There is really never a time that a text message needs to be answered immediately.

I had one bad experience that woke me up! to know just how dangerous it can be. For many years I never even did the text messages I used to stick with regular phone calls. but I met a woman who was into them and she was also into me and having special one on one fun. So we got texting about getting together one day and I got into the texts.
But I was driving and trying to reply to one of her texts then
suddenly I looked up and I had gone off the road onto the grass on the shoulder and was like WOW!!! I had to swerve back to the road and > that was the first time I realized how dangerous it can be.
Man if somebody had been walking or cycling in that part of the road that day I could have hurt somebody really bad or worse. Or I could have hit a pole head on or something. I was just lucky
it was just a grassy area and no people were there and there was no objects to run into. but the incident scared the crap out of me! So not I refuse to text while I drive.

There's no hope for the human race.

At work, most employees are not allowed to have phones on the floor. If you're caught, it's a final, again and it's termination. You get two warnings!

You would think your job is more important than seeing what someone just said on Facebook, or replying to the newest incoming text. Unfortunately, the cell phone policy is the biggest cause for attrition since the policy was enacted.

Not performance. Not attendance. Cell phones.

There is no way to stop texting while driving.

I find it easy to ignore texts...I refuse to have a data plan, and have all data blocked.

Visit the Basement

Right, no data plan needed for texting.

MSU

I realize you don't need a data plan for texting.

If you don't have a texting plan, you have to pay for each outgoing, and incoming texts. I obviously refuse to have a texting plan, and got tired of paying for incoming drunk texts from friends.

I called up customer service, and said I want texting disabled. Confused, they told me I needed a texting plan. I had to reiterate a few times that I want texting disabled completely – incoming and outgoing. I was told the only way to do this was to block all data. And that's what I did...first with ATT and now with Verizon.

Visit the Basement

It confused them because they can't imagine that there could possibly be people that don't want that stuff. Like there must be something wrong with you if you don't

MSU

I know. Grandma's even text.

Visit the Basement

That's a pretty patronising observation.

Rumour has it that Hillary Clinton is about to become a grandma. I bet she texts.

Sarah Palin is a grandma. She certainly texts.

Come to that, my wife is a grandma. Has been for 15 years. I can assure you she texts.

I know. I wasn't saying that they don't, I said they did.

Visit the Basement

QUOTE:
I know. Grandma's even text.

" Arlene
Life is a journey... not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

That seems odd, because I blocked all data on my Android phone when I went to the USA a few weeks ago yet texting was not disturbed. I do not see the connection between data and texting. I was texting long before data plans even existed.

Unless there is more than one definition of 'blocking all data', I am confused.

Dave

My old phone isn't data-capable. But it does text.

Precisely.

Dave

For me its chicks. Chicks are the ones who like the texting so much
and i dont know why.

I see posts all the time > looking for a texting buddy

I try to not start out on the texting things with somebody because
then it will stay there and I don't like it.
Then you get into the habit of receiving texts and wind up
texting while your driving.

I prefer email for text correspondence and a phone call for
chatting

the texting is annoying to me in most instances

MSU

Yeah its crazy. Chics think its the greatest thing.
The ones who like texting prefer that over every other communication.
They wont answer a lengthy email but they will text all day.
I think they like the idea of it going on in real time. and you
can have your phone with you anywhere. So I guess its exciting for
them to like say be chatting while they are on line at the bank
or sending texts while they are in class or at a coffee shop.

me I don't really like it so much because I don't have that on my
phone service so every text I send or receive costs me time off what I have paid for.
I also don't like it for the sake of > texting while driving type of thing.

Like you receive a text right now and somebody is expecting a reply
but I might not be ready to read it and reply right now.