Others say

Death by text

An estimate released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that traffic fatalities were up 9.5 percent in the second quarter of this year over the same period last year. Per vehicle-mile traveled, the increase was 6.5 percent. A total of 9,600 people died on our country's roads in April, May and June, the agency estimates.

Among the activities that clearly make driving more dangerous is texting.

Yet in 2014, according to the NHTSA, 2.2 percent of drivers who were observed stopped at signs or lights in passenger cars without government or commercial markings were manipulating handheld devices. That's better, of course, than using them while your car is moving. But one has to wonder how many of these drivers put their foot on the gas without taking their hand off their phone.

Reducing texting while driving poses a challenge for lawmakers, law enforcement and innovators--and not every idea for reducing it would be worth pursuing.

The best solution is cultural, not legal: Use sense and take care. Choose the phone or the wheel. You cannot have both. Teach that to your children.

Before you touch the gas, put down your phone. It could save your life. Or the life of a loved one. Or the life of that pedestrian you didn't see.

Editorial on 10/19/2016

Upcoming Events