Monday, November 2, 2009
Death By Texting
Posted by David Winkler-Schmit on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Here’s something to think about the next time you can’t resist texting someone while you’re driving — it can have deadly consequences. Phillipa Curtis, 22, was driving and texting from her car on a British highway when she plowed into a hazard-lit vehicle that was broken down, and the resulting crash killed Victoria McBryde, a 24-year-old fashion designer. Under 2008 British guidelines, which consider texting to be a contributing factor in “death by dangerous driving,” Curtis was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
In Louisiana, it’s illegal to text and drive, but the first offense is only punishable up to $175.00, and drivers can still talk on a cell phone all they want.
What do you think? Does the punishment fit the crime for Curtis, who is described as a “normal” “lovely” girl? Should our state law have harsher consequences, or is a $175.00 fine enough?
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