It's Time to Outlaw Texting While in Motion

Though revolutionary, smartphones can be annoying, from people shouting into them in public spaces to those who walk around with their noses buried in their devices, tapping away at the screen.

In the 1990s, Europeans would actually carry around two phones—one for voice and the other for messaging services, which were growing in popularity. Those days are obviously over, but the battle between voice and messaging continues. Do you want to call and chat with someone? Or do you want to text them and carry on an extended "conversation" that may last for days or months at a time?

No matter your preference, text messaging is undeniably a godsend for civility. Now you can tap out a quick message (followed by a quick apology) rather than interrupting a dinner or movie by answering a phone call. This, of course, assumes you ignore the follow-up messages.

Still, a text appearing on the screen is better than a constantly ringing phone, or having to listen to a one-sided phone conversation at the table. Unless you are a doctor on call, there is very little cell phone communication you have to take.

But of course, there are downsides, like driving and walking while texting. There are laws on the books in a number of states that ban texting behind the wheel, but some people still do it. Talking is one thing, but how can you keep your eye on your phone and the road at the same time? You can't.

Walking while texting is slightly less dangerous, but be careful where you walk, lest you end up in a YouTube video compilation of texters walking into poles, fountains, traffic, and other people.

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There are few phones made today without GPS, compasses, or motion detectors. If one state requires phones to disable texting if the phone is in motion, handset makers would find it easier to make all its phones work that way (especially if the state is California).

While there is some humor in watching an idiot fall into a hole while texting, too many people are injured. Until now, evolving etiquette has done a fair job, but etiquette is not going to fix these dangers, especially for careless drivers. It's been long enough, it is time to legislate before scores more die.