Residents Agree, Texting Too Dangerous Behind Wheel

There are some issues that divide Belmont residents, the school override, for instance. However, there are also some issues that everyone seems to agree on, and the state's proposed ban on text messaging while driving appears to be one of them.

About a dozen residents, selected at random in Belmont Center Friday, said that texting behind the wheel is too distracting and too dangerous. They all agreed it should be outlawed.

The state's House and Senate are currently reviewing the proposed legislation, which was released Tuesday. If approved, the bill would still need to be signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick.

The safe-driving bill would also make it illegal for drivers less than 18 years of age to use cell phones at all while operating motor vehicles and require those greater than 75 to take eye exams every five years to renew their licenses.

A look at the resident responses:

Carolyn Mulloy

A third generation Belmont resident, Carolyn Mulloy, 79, doesn't text at all, so she certainly doesn't see the need to text while driving.

"I think that those things could wait," said Mulloy, who was eating ice cream with a friend. "How important is it?"

Mulloy's biggest concern was the public's safety.

"I don't like the fact that people could get hurt," she said. "That's the most important thing."

Rebecca Erdeljac

Unlike Mulloy, Rebecca Erdeljac, a 17-year-old student at Belmont High School, texts non-stop.

"I easily text more than 1,000 times per month," she said while hanging out with friends.

However, Erdeljac, a recent Australian transplant, still doesn't understand why people text on the road.

"I think it's really unnecessary, really stupid," she said. "Like it can wait, it's a text."

Erdeljac doesn't have an American driver's license yet, but she said many of her fellow teenagers do text behind the wheel. She said she tells her friends not to.

Sam Ellenport

Sam Ellenport, 67, was the only resident asked who disagreed with the proposed legislation as it pertained to texting.

"I think it needs to be stronger," he said while going for a walk on Concord Avenue.

Ellenport said the penalty needs to be greater than the $100 first offense fine being proposed. He said texting is so dangerous because it not only requires the use of hands but, also, a lot of concentration.

Lisa Serini

At the town pool, Lisa Serini, 53, also supported the texting ban.

"When you're texting, you're not concentrating on driving," she said, "and that's very dangerous."

With the new keyboards, Serini, who doesn't text, said it takes two thumbs to text. However, she said some teenagers and younger kids have it down to a science.

"Some kids don't even have to look," she said.

Tom Miller

A recent Belmont High graduate, Tom Miller, 18, can't figure out how anybody would be for texting behind the wheel.

"It seems like common sense," he said of the proposed ban. "I don't know how you'd possibly be able to text while driving. It takes all of your attention to text."

Other Provisions

All interviewees agreed that the proposed teenage cell phone ban should apply to all drivers.

"I don't think anybody should be able to talk on the phone and drive," Erdeljac said.

They also all supported the portion of the bill that would have the elderly get their eyesight checked every five years.

"I'm for anything that encourages safety," Mulloy said, "and if that does, fine."