rw typed:
Tim J. wrote:
rw typed:

I think talking on a cell phone while driving is qualitatively
different from most other distractions. People get so involved in
their conversations, often (as I observe) getting angry, that they
lose track of the fact that they're driving.

I suppose the same thing is possible with a conversation with a
passenger, but there's nothing a law can do about that.


Why not? We could enact a "lip movement" law that restricts
conversation of any sort. Of course, that won't fix the "wiping
their ass" thing, but we could just pass a law per day until we've
hit all the possibilities.

When it comes to laws, I'm a utilitarian. Laws can reasonably solve
some problems, but not others. So I'm against a lip movement law.
It's not practical.

There's also the question of culpability. A cell-phone talking driver
(or, for that matter, a drunk driver) is a risk to others; as, for
example, a helmetless motorcycle rider or non-seat-belt-wearing driver
isn't.

I'm against (mildly) laws that mandate personal safety, like helmet
and seat-belt laws, but I'm in favor of laws that mandate public
safety.

Okay. So mobile ass-wiping is okay or not? What about changing a cassette
tape (CD for you younguns)? Or eating a Big Mac? Or wacking your kid in the
backseat who's playing "I'm not touching you" with his younger sister? What
about that Cheetos that fell to the car floor and is still under the
five-second rule? If we have a law for one, we *must* have a law for all!
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj