BrianGarst.com

The New York Times highlights a few ill-conceived legislative efforts currently underway:

When its legislature convenes this year, Kansas will consider banning motorists from sending text messages. South Carolina will, too, and debate whether to prohibit drivers from using phones altogether, or requiring them to use hands-free devices when they call. New Jersey lawmakers have proposed banning drivers from manipulating a navigation system in a moving car.

In all, lawmakers have already proposed 200 bills to curb distracted driving, and policy analysts expect to see dozens more in the coming months.

These laws are just silly. They’re virtually unenforceable and just aren’t likely to matter much to people.  If you’re already willing to accept an increased risk of injury or death by dong something which is obviously dangerous, it’s unlikely that the minuscule chance of being caught by the police will change the equation at all.

State government’s should spend less time worrying about treating citizens like babies in need of protection, and more time solving their fiscal crises.