I was reading something about the case where the girlfriend sent her boyfriend text messages while he was driving home, he apparently responded to the messages and ended up having a wreck and killing/hurting the people in the other car. The majority of commenters on the article seemed to think the girlfriend should also be charged due to sending the texts when she knew her boyfriend would be driving.
What does everyone here think? Should she be charged? Is she equally responsible?
The driver should be responsible for what s/he does. In this case the driver chose to respond. The GF did not force him to read her texts at that particular moment.
In BC hand-held devices have been banned since 2009 or maybe it was 2010. You can't even look at it at a stop light. You can talk on a blue tooth but there's talk of banning them too.
-- Edited by Bessie S on Thursday 7th of June 2012 07:08:17 PM
I think it would be ridiculous to charge her. I have this crazy thing I do when I'm driving and someone texts me. I ignore my phone and leave it in my purse. Then I read the text when I'm stopped at a light, to see if I can answer it when I get where I'm going, or if I should pull over and deal with it right away. Works like a charm.
I think it would be ridiculous to charge her. I have this crazy thing I do when I'm driving and someone texts me. I ignore my phone and leave it in my purse. Then I read the text when I'm stopped at a light, to see if I can answer it when I get where I'm going, or if I should pull over and deal with it right away. Works like a charm.
Here's a comment on the article: "In my opinion the person who is texting the person driving definitely deserves punishment if they knew that they were driving. The idea that the sender had no idea how the receiver would react is just plain ridiculous!!!"
If I'm at a stop light I'll look at my phone, but as soon as the light changes I drop it in my lap.
In Missouri it is illegal for anyone under 21 to text while driving. The legislature was looking at proposed regulations to ban everyone from using handheld communication devices while driving, but the session ended before it came to a vote. They may pick it up again next January.
This is a good example of someone not taking personal responsibility. The comments also say to me that other people don't value personal responsibility.
Even if she knew he was driving she didn't know he would answer right away or do it while driving That comment came from some "Oh it's not my fault" entitled little twerp for sure.
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Even if she knew he was driving she didn't know he would answer right away or do it while driving That comment came from some "Oh it's not my fault" entitled little twerp for sure.
doubt it
- it most likely came from the thwacka thwacka parents who refuse to let their widdle precious assume responsibility for HIS choice to do the wrong thing.
Even if she knew he was driving she didn't know he would answer right away or do it while driving That comment came from some "Oh it's not my fault" entitled little twerp for sure.
doubt it
- it most likely came from the thwacka thwacka parents who refuse to let their widdle precious assume responsibility for HIS choice to do the wrong thing.
Another good guess...lol
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Make up your mind to be happy and happiness usually comes your way.
It seems to be a new trend - "Well, the bad thing wouldn't have happened if that other thing hadn't happened first, therefore, fault lies with that other thing." I've seen similar comments on other stories. I just can't get past the idea of being responsible for someone else's actions.
The great thing about texting is I can send a message when I'm thinking about something or when it's convenient for me. I assume the other person will reply when it's convenient and safe for them to do so. I'll text my dh while I know he's driving simply so I don't forget what I want to tell him. That doesn't mean an immediate response is needed.
No. The burden of proof -- that she KNEW he was driving and would respond to her messages -- would have to be nearly impossible. He is the one that chose to not only read them, but respond to them, while he was driving. And lied about when he was questioned at the time of the accident. They were able to check his phone records and found messages that he'd sent within a minute and at the time he hit and killed the other driver.
It annoys me to no end that the laws are on the books banning the use of hand-held devices (hands-free is legal) and texting while driving. You can see it on the roads ALL THE TIME! Either someone is holding the phone to their ear or they're staring intently down. But it's NOT enforced! What's the point of having the laws if the police are going to ignore it? It's probably going to take a similar tragedy in this state to get them to do anything!
Rant over......
I got a call while I was on a rural back road yesterday. It rang, rolled into the VM, I checked it when I got off the road. The caller and I both survived me not answering it right away.
I think it would be ridiculous to charge her. I have this crazy thing I do when I'm driving and someone texts me. I ignore my phone and leave it in my purse. Then I read the text when I'm stopped at a light, to see if I can answer it when I get where I'm going, or if I should pull over and deal with it right away. Works like a charm.
Here's a comment on the article: "In my opinion the person who is texting the person driving definitely deserves punishment if they knew that they were driving. The idea that the sender had no idea how the receiver would react is just plain ridiculous!!!"
Apparently you don't react the right way Looms :)
Yup, I'm doing it wrong, I guess. I should put myself at the beck and call of everyone who ever contacts me.
