Texting and Driving Law in KS

There's a lot of buzz recently regarding the new Kansas law dealing with texting and driving. If you haven't heard of this yet, essentially it states that if you are operating a motor vehicle and a cop spots you with a cell phone and you're obviously not making a phone call you could get a citation for $60 (plus any court costs) for texting or emailing. This citation can potentially affect your insurance rate as well.

The two biggest questions I've read/heard regarding this new law are: How is texting any different from making a phone call? AND How is texting any different from other distractions, like eating or putting on make-up?

For some reason, a lot of people have asked ME these questions, maybe because I work for a company that makes mobile websites. Whatever the reason, I figured I'd post my answers once and send everyone here to read them. :)

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HOW IS TEXTING DIFFERENT FROM MAKING A PHONE CALL

First, try these timed scenarios (pretend your computer keyboard is your steering wheel and the monitor is your windshield if you're in front of a computer; put this away until later if you're driving your car). Start from your default view when you first open your phone.

1. Make a phone call (don't have a complete conversation, just start a call). 
2. Read a regular text message.
3. Send a regular text message.
4. If usual for you, read AND respond to a text message together.
5. Read an email message (if you do this on your phone)

I can almost guarantee that #1 was the fastest thing you did.

THAT'S the answer to the first question. Making a phone call takes less time and therefore takes your eyes from the road and your hands from the wheel for a shorter period of time. (To me this is basic logic, but a lot of people have asked that one.)

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HOW IS TEXTING ANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DISTRACTIONS, LIKE EATING OR PUTTING ON MAKEUP?
Again, stop and think about this. When you eat in the car, do you typically stare at your food for 30 seconds at a time or do you put the fries where you can easily reach them and pop them one at a time into your mouth without looking (hopefully you know where your mouth is without looking in the mirror...). Same with a drink - you don't have to look to find the cup holder and you can easily put the Starbucks to your lips. One hand is typically on the steering wheel at all times.

Makeup is a different matter. I think putting on makeup while trying to drive your car is just as dangerous as texting. You need to look at yourself while doing it, it takes one if not both hands (one to hold the compact the other to do the application) and it definitely takes longer than 30 seconds (and if it doesn't, why are you bothering?).

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There are a lot of distractions in a vehicle I won't even touch on - spouse, children, pets, radio... Anything besides a completely silent car with your eyes on the road, reviewing traffic through all your mirrors and keeping your hands at 10 and 2 is going to be "unsafe". Although, personally, I'm pretty sure that if *I* did everything perfectly all the time I would fall asleep at the wheel. :)

All they are saying with this law is that you need to really think about what you're doing while driving. Do you truly need to read that text that says "Whatssup?" and reply "nm. u?" while you're driving? In traffic? At 70 MPH?

If you're expecting a message that IS important and you get that happy notification signal, take a minute to pull off the road into a parking lot or even the shoulder and read it. Better yet, call the person you're expecting to message you and TALK to them. Or ask them to call you instead of text when you know you're jumping in the car.

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BTW, the law does exclude the following messaging activities:

• To receive an emergency, traffic, or weather alert message; 
• To receive a message related to the operation or navigation of the vehicle;
• To report current or ongoing illegal activity to law enforcement;
• To prevent imminent injury to a person or property

Although, if you're really doing any of these things, make a phone call! It'd be faster and probably guarantee better reception from law enforcement.
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There. I've had my say on the matter. I won't say I've been a good girl and never texted while operating my van. Usually, if I have to text something, I wait until I'm at a stop light or stop sign (this is now illegal too, BTW).

If this law simply gets more people to think a little more outside their own bubbles and live in the real world while driving their cars, I think it's fulfilled it's purpose.

My fear? There will be more "clandestine texting" (holding the phone below the window level instead of up where you can see road and phone) and it will cause more harm than good. I guess we'll see...