Those against texting ban will undoubtedly have wrong argument

For the last couple of weeks, I have been advocating a ban on using mobile phones while operating a motor vehicle or, at the very least, a ban on texting while driving. There are, of course, going to be those arguing against this and their main argument is going to be "it can't be enforced. We can't afford to have our police wasting their time trying to catch people using mobile phones in their cars."

Those who make that argument are missing the entire point. Creating such a ban is not about catching the "bad guys." Geez, people who use their phones while driving are not even "bad guys" to begin with; they are good people who, without thinking about it, are momentarily threatening their own lives and the well-being of others sharing the roads with them. This is strictly a public safety issue.

Look: DART and the Texas Department of Public Safety have done an absolutely miserable job of explaining why HOV lanes exist. Yet, for the most part, most drivers obey the HOV lane rules even when there are no concrete barriers separating these lanes from mainstream traffic. I read a story in the Dallas Morning News recently on HOV lanes and, as I recall, the story said 16 percent of all the cars in the HOV lanes during one given period were using them illegally. That may seem like a lot, but it isn't when you put it into context. Those who drive on northern loop of LBJ or on North Central north of LBJ know that these HOV lanes are almost empty for the most part. So if you take that 16 percent and make it the percentage of all the vehicles on a freeway at any given time, I'm willing to bet the number comes out to less than one-tenth of 1 percent. That's minuscule. That means 99.9 percent of all motorists obey the HOV lane rules even though most know these rules "can't be enforced."

Explaining the reasons behind a mobile phone ban while operating a vehicle is going to be much easier than educating the public on HOV lanes. It's like seat belts, another impossible law to enforce but the overwhelming majority of people in autos use seat belts. Why? Not because they are afraid of getting a ticket if they don't, but because they are convinced it's the right thing to do.

The HOV and seat belt examples prove to me that, for the most part, drivers are willing to follow the rules (exception: the speed limit on the Dallas North Tollway) if those rules are made clear.

Banning the use of mobile phones -- or at least texting -- while driving is simply about public safety, about saving lives, about reducing the number of traffic accidents and has nothing to do with writing tickets for those who disobey the rules.

Plus, no one is telling anyone they can't use their mobile phone in their automobiles. All I'm advocating is that, when you do have to use it, pull over to the side of the road and find a safe place to park for a while. Then use the phone.