Ban texting while driving

Teenagers today are text messaging, all the time. It is the "in" thing to do. If you do not have unlimited text messaging, something is wrong with you. It is easier to send a short, simple message to have a conversation while in class or driving down the road than actually calling someone and telling them what you want to say.

But teenagers today are driving by the age of 15 on a permit and legally at 16. And when it comes to having a cell phone, it has to have a full keyboard like an Apple iPhone or RIM Blackberry.

Chicago has a law that drivers must have a "hands free" way to talk on their cell phones; why does text messaging not apply? Text messaging can be just as deadly as calling someone. It takes more pushing of buttons to create a short message than dialing 10 numbers to call someone. Think about it, just to say, "Hey! Where are you?" is almost twenty buttons to be pushed. Then to read the text message that was sent back to you with an answer takes more button pushing and reading - while still trying to keep an eye on the road. Why are cell phone restrictions limited to Chicago, and why is text messaging not banned in the whole state of Illinois?

Jeanne Jeziorski

Darien