Everyone does it: from eating breakfast on the way to class to gabbing on cell phones on the highway, most drivers are at some point guilty of distracted driving. Some take multi-tasking to the extreme, going as far as to change their pants or compose a text message or read while behind the wheel.
There are currently no laws restricting distracted driving such as reading, eating and applying makeup on the open road, other than a 2001 law passed by Governor Pataki which states that hand-held cell phones cannot be used while a vehicle is in motion without the use of a hands-free device. Despite the new ticket-able offense, the general public has seemingly not taken this law to heart, as many drivers can be seen gabbing away during rush hour.
"Obviously, you're not paying attention to what you're doing," said Faye Davis, a graduate student studying library and information studies.
Moreover, local officials have cited an even bigger distraction on the open road: text messaging while driving. According to Fox News, it was text messaging behind the wheel that led to the deaths of five recent graduates from Fairport High School, as their SUV collided with an oncoming tractor-trailer. Police said that text messages were sent and received on the driver's phone just moments prior to the crash.
While texting bans have been proposed, no legislation has been enacted in New York State restricting the practice.
"We've always been aware that distracted driving is a major cause of accidents," said UB's Chief of Police, Gerald W. Schoenle Jr. "Officers on campus have consistently enforced state law on cell phone usage."
According to a national highway study, 80 percent of automobile crashes occur within three seconds of a distraction.
Josh Haentges, a UB sophomore biomedical major, agrees that standards should be stricter.
"I think that having a conversation in general is distracting, whether you have a cell phone on your ear, a hands-free set or are text messaging."
Eric Walters, a local ECC alumnus with a degree in criminal justice, agrees with Haentges - he says it only takes a moment of distraction for life to take a drastic turn.
"You have to take your eyes off the road to text, and when you're using a cell phone, you don't have to look at it to talk to someone. I think texting is worse than talking on your cell phone," Walters said. "If they have a law against talking on the phone, then they should definitely have one against texting."
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
