Philadelphia Police Crackdown On Texting And Driving, Jaywalking

April 30, 2011 9:15 AM

Texting And Driving

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If you’re often texting or gabbing while you’re driving or even walking in Center City, be warned: police are launching a crackdown aimed at making it safer to get around.

The crackdown, which is called “Give respect, Get respect,” is aimed at drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists in Center City. A new unit of eight to 10 officers will rotate among five zones in Center City each day during the summer, enforcing laws such as no bicycling on the sidewalk, no texting while driving, and for pedestrians — obeying signals at crosswalks.

Alex Doty of the Bicycle Coalition supports the initiative.

“We’re putting the knuckleheads on notice. Calmer streets work better for everyone, and now that’s going to be backed up with a ticket for those who choose not to follow that.”

The program also includes a public awareness component, including guides on proper behavior for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. It is expect to last through the fall.

Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW City Hall Bureau Chief

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Philadelphia Police Crackdown On Texting And Driving, Jaywalking

Larry

TextZapper the cell phone app the disables the ability to text while driving. check out http://www.zapmytext.com
mark

great, according to this I can’t even walk while talking on my cell??? Where is the law or ordinance on that? I remember it being for driving, biking, skateboarding, (aka “things with wheels”) I’ll remember that if I’m getting mugged and I have to dial 911 while running

btw…the facebook connected comments isn’t working…thus it had me add CBS to my facebook and said that I still had to fill in the name and email below….
Erik Wood

I think we live in a culture where business people need to ‘hit the ball over the net’. Teens consider it rude not to reply immediately to texts. Home schedules would grind to a halt without immediate communication. We are conditioned to pursue this level of efficiency but we are all supposed cease this behavior once we sit in our respective 5,000 pound pieces of steel and glass. Anyone can win an argument in a forum like this by saying “Just put the phone away” – but we can see its just not happening.

I just read that 72% of teens text daily – many text more 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook – even with their professors. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and I think we need to do more than legislate.

I decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool called OTTER that is a simple GPS based texting auto reply app for smartphones. It also silences call ringtones while driving unless you have a bluetooth enabled. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.

Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app

sheriff

Erik, Good luck on that one. Maybe you have enough self discipline to do that with the device but in todays world of “I want it & I want in now” mentality that will fly like a lead balloon. Kids can’t remember their parents birthdays, assignments, clean up their pigsty rooms but they will text immediately because they like you say have become conditioned & allowed so to get that instant gratification & filter out what they think is not important. I feel sorry for them. Socially we are raising emotional cripples who don’t or can’t interact without an electronic device.

Tom McGrath

Crackdown should be city wide especially the BLVD in it’s entire length.
It’s an epidemic all over.
Guess Who

Will they ticket the walkie talkie zombies?
Mary Maldonado

Cell phones are a great thing to have but now they are becomming abused for personal pleasures just like a computer. When is this world going to see that we take everything use it then destroy it just like this once beautiful country. I just don’t get how texting or a conversation that could have waited is worth yours or others lives. The sad thing is from what I have seen it is not just the younger generation. Is our lives worth a text or a conwersation that sould hve WAITED!