Wake-Up Call: The joy of text?

President Barack Obama just signed an executive order banning federal workers from text-messaging when they are driving government cars, or driving their own cars on government business, or using their on government phones while driving their own cars on personal business. The ban was announced at a transportation department meeting...

By Patricia Calhoun

October 2, 2009

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President Barack Obama just signed an executive order banning federal workers from text-messaging when they are driving government cars, or driving their own cars on government business, or using their on government phones while driving their own cars on personal business. The ban was announced at a transportation department meeting called to discuss "distracted driving."

And it's a smart move. Now, can Obama just extend this crackdown to anyone texting while driving? That's the kind of martial law just about everyone could support.

Particularly the RTD driver whose bus was almost smashed by a driver (who shall go nameless) texting while trying to find a parking place for yesterday's Rockies game. Our careening course through LoDo had a lot more drama than the game that clinched the Rockies' place in the playoffs.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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