After attending a Transportation Safety Conference in Pierre SD this week I found myself looking differently at the need for a ban on texting while driving. The following are a few thoughts that I came to. Please search out your own laws and see if just some concise informational messaging might help us with this relatively new issue. Maybe we should create billboards and posters which will support our law enforcement.

SDCL 32-4-08 states  Definition of careless driving--Misdemeanor. Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway, alley, public park, recreational area, or upon the property of a public or private school, college, or university carelessly and without due caution, at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger any person or property, not amounting to reckless driving as defined in § 32-24-1, is guilty of careless driving. Careless driving is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
 

So if I were driving down the street texting and my distraction caught the eye of a law enforcement officer, (He or She) would have probable cause to cite me for Careless Driving.

If I were driving down the street trying to eat a "taco" and my eradic control caught the eye of a patrolman I could be pulled over for Careless Diving.

Putting on make-up, reading a newspaper, even turning to yell at the kids in the backseat if it rises to the point of arousing our "friends in blue" could be Careless Driving.

With these ideas in mind, maybe those of us who believe texting, or other distracting behaviors are a hazard to everyone should encourage our law enforcement agencies to use the laws they already have on the books to their fullest, instead of always asking for new laws.

Dave Renli, Executive Director

Sioux Empire Safety Village.