Not this song and dance again....

A few months ago I wrote a couple of blog entries speaking out against New Jersey prohibiting people from using their cell phone while driving. My stance has always been that if you're using your cell phone but you remain alert and are driving safely (and yes, it is possible), it's a bit ridiculous to be pulled over and given a ticket. I can personally attest to the fact that my hands free device absolutely sucks, and the process of flipping open the phone, fumbling to find my hands free unit, plugging it in, and maneuvering it onto my ear is FAR more dangerous and distracting than merely picking the phone up and placing it against my ear.

Nevertheless, I must continue to ask, why are we so determined to vilify cell phone use while people are driving?

On AOL.com today, I came across this article (originally posted on the FOX News website), which is titled "Girl in Fatal Wreck Sent Text Message Moments Before Crash." Here is the article in its entirety:

Authorities say a 16-year-old girl who died after losing control of her car had been texting on her cell phone moments before the accident. Kayla Preuss, of Highland, CA was driving on the Interstate 10 Freeway in Redlands when she lost control of her car and crashed. She died of head injuries. Authorities say Preuss had been driving drunk and was speeding. But another factor may have contributed to the crash. Phone records show Preuss was texting just before the accident. Her cell phone, which was flipped open, was found resting on the floorboard by her feet.

Does anybody else find it disturbing that the very first sentence of this story discusses the fact that she was allegedly using her cell phone before the crash, yet doesn't mention the fact that she was, ya' know, DRIVING DRUNK until the fourth sentence? And even then, THAT tidbit of information is quickly disregarded, just so that the author can speculate that the whole texting thing MAY have contributed to the crash.

Yes, in a seven sentence story, only one sentence refers to the fact that she was driving drunk, compared to the four sentences that reference or allude to her cell phone use. Not to mention that the title completely focuses on the texting aspect of this story, while totally ignoring the whole intoxication thing. And nearly all of the 50 plus comments being left relate to the cell phone usage, with nary a single comment devoted solely to drinking and driving.

Yeah, that makes sense.