Highly organized and fully developed societies - such as the one in which we live - usually have a network of rules to govern certain kinds of behavior. We call them laws.

Laws have been deemed necessary because, even though the society in which we live is organized and developed, some folks choose to operate independently, doing what they want to do, when they want to do it.

Sometimes the behavior is criminal, and laws are there as a preamble to punishment. Sometimes the behavior is just plain dumb, requiring laws to protect people from themselves and others.

The bill passed by the California Legislature last week banning texting on your cell phone or other personal communications device while driving falls into that latter category.

There are few things as unnerving as driving along the freeway at 65 mph, and glancing over to see the driver of the vehicle speeding past you bending over a cell phone, thumbing a message into the device.

The bill has not been signed into law yet, because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed not to sign anything until lawmakers agree on a state budget. Maybe he should consider breaking his promise for this one.

The same studies that show making or taking a call on a cell phone while driving carries about the same risk factor as driving while intoxicated, also reveal a similar situation for texting while driving. Yet, in a statewide survey, more than half of those questioned say they have, indeed, sent a text message while behind the wheel.

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And nearly 90 percent of Californians believe such texting should be illegal.

California already has a law requiring drivers to use a hands-free device for making or taking cell calls. A law banning texting is even more crucial to the safety of texters, and those they put in harm's way.

The anti-texting law just barely made it through the state Senate, where Republicans complained about the state having “too many laws.” One GOP senator grumbled about the “next (law) is going to be you can't drive while you are eating a hamburger.”

OK, so one of our lawmakers is finally getting it.

August 25, 2008