People must choose not to be distracted

While it's widely accepted that texting behind the wheel is so dangerous that many states have banned it, including Pennsylvania, a North Jersey town as well as a New Jersey Superior Court judge may be on shaky ground when it comes to bans.

A ruling may come Friday in a Morristown lawsuit concerning two motorcyclists who lost their legs in a crash triggered by a driver who had just received a text message from his girlfriend. The court is being asked whether the girlfriend should be held liable, too, for knowingly texting a driver who would be violating New Jersey law if he answered her.

The case is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. It should also be the last. If a cell-phone user can be blamed for causing a crash by sending a text message, where does it stop? Should placard-carriers promoting store sales be prosecuted if a distracted motorist runs his vehicle into another car?

The sensible approach would be to hold drivers alone accountable for their actions. Receiving a text doesn't mean you have to respond.

In Fort Lee, meanwhile, police have been issuing $85 citations to pedestrians seen texting while jaywalking. That's after three pedestrians were killed and more than 20 others injured this year.

The jaywalking crackdown is less black and white, since distracted walking can put pedestrians and others at grave risk.

While a recent YouTube video sensation showed a woman tumbling into a mall fountain while texting, but emerging unhurt, a university study several years ago found that more than 1,000 people — double the previous year's number — wound up in emergency rooms with injuries suffered while walking and using a cell phone.

To highlight the problem, Philadelphia officials temporarily stenciled sidewalk lanes as if they were reserved for distracted walkers.But not paying attention while crossing a street, much less texting while driving, just isn't funny.