More and more people are being killed or injured, by either driving while texting, or by other drivers, who are texting while driving.

Today (9/10/07),on the “Dr. Phil Show”, Dr. Phil talked to two young people, who have texted messages, on their cell phones, while driving. One was “addicted” to texting, the other, while texting, hit and killed a bicyclist.

Is texting while driving any different than driving “under the influence” of alcohol or drugs?

If a person is killed by a texting driver, should it be classified as vehicular manslaughter?.

If a minor (someone under the age of 18) kills, or injures a person while driving, what should the penalty be?

Should parents be held accountable for what happens, if their minor child is texting while driving?

Should the inventor of this technology, be held responsible, if someone gets killed or injured by a texting driver?

Should cell phone companies be held accountable for promoting this feature on cell phones?

Should cell phone makers be required to install a “text blocking” feature, similar to the blocking features that are available for televisions and computers?

Should DWT (driving while texting) accidents, be added to a person’s driving record? And, in turn, increase their insurance premiums? Or, result in the loss of their drivers license?

Should DWT, become a moving (motor vehicle driving) violation?

What would you do, if a loved one got killed, or injured, by a texting driver?

How would you feel if you, or a child of yours, killed someone due to texting while driving?

This is an issue that is still in it’s infancy. More and more individuals will become the victims of texting drivers. We will definitely see more accidents and vehicle damage as a result of texting drivers.

Washington State has passed legislation which will impose a fine for DWT (driving while texting).

What do you think?

Should texting while driving be banned?

UPDATE: Since this post was written, the topic of texting while driving has resulted in the passage of more laws. On January 18, 2010, this topic was also discussed on Oprah. Oprah is now asking her viewers to sign a pledge that they will stop texting and/or talking on the phone while driving; named the “No Phone Zone”.