It's not explicitly illegal for anyone but those driving with a learner's permit. As a matter of a gray area, it falls under the distracted driving law, but it's only enforceable if there's been an accident or an officer sees grossly reckless driving resulting from it. If you're simply seen texting by a policeman but don't happen to be bouncing from lane to lane, he can't rightly nab you for it.So are you saying texting and driving is not distracting? I don't quite understand.

So are you saying texting and driving is not distracting? I don't quite understand.

Are you being intentionally obtuse for the sake of debate? Or is this just you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QQsEJFgPwY

Are you being intentionally obtuse for the sake of debate? Or is this just you?

I'm asking a perfectly valid question.

Texting and driving is distracted driving. Distracted driving is illegal. Go pull up next to a cop and pull your phone and start driving and texting. I bet you get pulled over and possibly a ticket.

I did read your whole post BTW. I understand it is a gray matter. You can put paint on it any way you want, but if it is distracted driving, it is illegal. If a cop gives you a ticket for it, go to court and see who the judge sides with.

So if you remove your hand from the steering wheel to adjust your seat belt, change the radio, modify the air conditioning settings, shake your hand or arm due to discomfort, etc.. things that a majority of people do, a cop should be able to pull you over because he thinks your using your cell phone(and according to others, should be able to access your records to see if you were texting and driving)?

I don't usually drive with both hands on the wheel. I know my tires and always keep them up to date. I am perfectly capable of driving with one hand at low speeds as many others can and do.

I do agree with you though, you should keep your eyes on the road, which is why a cop shouldn't be studying you, if you have clear windows, mine are tinted, and that distracts him. I won't even get into the fact about their laptops in their cars and when they watch the actions of other drivers instead of driving their cars, and I mean completely looking out the side of their car.

PluPan,
You said "Do you think a ban on texting and driving would make roads safer?". I responded and there is no question, a ban on texting would make roads safer. I didn't say texting should be banned, I just stated facts. You should adjust your seat belt before starting your car, change the radio at a stop sign or a signal light while waiting on the green light, and anything you said in your response. Do I change the radio station, once in a while. And what policemen do is in order to keep the roads safer and they are trained and also drive a lot more than the average bear.
C. T.

I'm asking a perfectly valid question.

Texting and driving is distracted driving. Distracted driving is illegal. Go pull up next to a cop and pull your phone and start driving and texting. I bet you get pulled over and possibly a ticket.

I did read your whole post BTW. I understand it is a gray matter. You can put paint on it any way you want, but if it is distracted driving, it is illegal. If a cop gives you a ticket for it, go to court and see who the judge sides with.

Oklahoma House Kills Texting and Driving Ban Again (http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/04/25/289760.htm)

Opponents of the proposal have said the proposal is either redundant with current law or wouldn’t be enforceable.

“If we want to look at stricter penalties for that, then we can,” said Rep. Josh Cockroft, R-Tecumseh, who moved to table McDaniel’s amendment. “In my discussions with law enforcement across the state and across my district, many of them feel like it would be very, very difficult to enforce.”

Oklahoma Highway State Trooper Betsy Randolph disputed both criticisms. She told the AP officers could only pull over a driver who was swerving because of a distraction or was otherwise demonstrably dangerous.

“But just Joe Blow citizen driving down the road and texting – we may honk our horn or something and tell them to knock it off,” Randolph said. “We can cite a driver for inattention when they’re messing with their phone, but only if they get in a collision.”

Oklahoma House Kills Texting and Driving Ban Again (http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2013/04/25/289760.htm)

Opponents of the proposal have said the proposal is either redundant with current law or wouldn’t be enforceable.

“If we want to look at stricter penalties for that, then we can,” said Rep. Josh Cockroft, R-Tecumseh, who moved to table McDaniel’s amendment. “In my discussions with law enforcement across the state and across my district, many of them feel like it would be very, very difficult to enforce.”

Oklahoma Highway State Trooper Betsy Randolph disputed both criticisms. She told the AP officers could only pull over a driver who was swerving because of a distraction or was otherwise demonstrably dangerous.

“But just Joe Blow citizen driving down the road and texting – we may honk our horn or something and tell them to knock it off,” Randolph said. “We can cite a driver for inattention when they’re messing with their phone, but only if they get in a collision.”Yeah, a police officer supporting another traffic law. Surprising...

I guess Edmond cops operate differently, and no I haven't received any tickets, but I am friends with a couple believe it or not and I've had this conversation before. Like I said, go in front of cop, pull out your phone, see what happens. When you get a ticket, go to court and see who the judge sides with.

BTW, if texting and driving wasn't illegal, this line

“But just Joe Blow citizen driving down the road and texting – we may honk our horn or something and tell them to knock it off,”
would be false. The cops don't have any right to tell you to knock something off that isn't illegal. So I doubt that's all they'll do. I bet she is just saying that to try and support the law.

I want you to tell me that texting and driving isn't distracted driving, because you still haven't answered that. Anything else is really irrelevant or redundant at this point.

My wife is better than any law or device. She will def let me know if I wander a bit from true.

My husband doesn't really say much about my driving, but our little girl sure does! She watches the odometer and tells me I'm speeding if I go even a couple mile per hour over the limit. Any time she sees a police cruiser she alerts me, too.

I want you to tell me that texting and driving isn't distracted driving, because you still haven't answered that. Anything else is really irrelevant or redundant at this point.

I refer you to thread post #59.

I refer you to thread post #59.

Either texting and driving is or isn't distracting when you. If it is, it's illegal. You keep hiding behind this 'grey area' reference. Stop making it so complicated. Either it distracts the driver or it doesn't.

You can have the last word here because nothing new is being presented.

Either texting and driving is or isn't distracting when you. If it is, it's illegal. You keep hiding behind this 'grey area' reference. Stop making it so complicated. Either it distracts the driver or it doesn't.

You can have the last word here because nothing new is being presented.

As has already been said, you're not likely to be cited for texting and driving unless it's caused a wreck. Saying that I'm "hiding behind" anything is absurd and stupid -- I'm not invested in the matter, I just lean toward favoring a law that explicitly calls out the use of a mobile phone with one's hands while driving. And yes, I'm calling out your anecdote that you'll get a ticket if an Oklahoma law enforcement agent sees the blue glow on your face while you're driving at night, but I'm not willing to test it by texting and driving myself.

**EDIT**
I say that it's absurd and stupid because using that terminology suggests that I'm merely looping myself, and doing so for lack of a leg to stand on, which is well off base. A strict ban on this particular sort of distracted driving, which has been shown to be an even greater danger on the roads than driving while intoxicated, would curb the behavior in lots of people, and result in massive fines for those who continue. Some people can't be fixed, but many would obey the restriction and pursue hands-free options.

My biggest qualm is with those who say "I do this all the time and nothing has happened to me!" when the stats are there in black and white to illustrate that this thing they're doing is dangerous, and it doesn't only affect the person doing it.

My husband doesn't really say much about my driving, but our little girl sure does! She watches the odometer and tells me I'm speeding if I go even a couple mile per hour over the limit. Any time she sees a police cruiser she alerts me, too.

When I have all 3 Grandsons strapped in the back and Grandma beside me I HAVE to pay attention strictly to the road to keep my sanity. They love to scream either red light, green light or stop sign. Sometimes being hearing impaired is not such a bad thing.