Columbia, SC — I am a professor of pathology who had the unfortunate duty of autopsying several bodies of persons who died as a result of testing while driving. Your excellent Feb. 10 editorial, “Outlaw texting while driving,” should be circulated to all our state lawmakers. It is about time they attend to this serious issue with determination.

The editorial is full of informative facts. Until the technology is perfected to provide reciprocal recognition of the conversion of eyesight on a focal point through an electromechanical stimulus, a law outlawing texting while driving should be enacted. And it is needed immediately.

The scientific basis for the technology is available and used to help quadriplegics interact with computer screens. It could be extended to preventing problems with texting while driving. Not only because it is common sense should the law be enacted but because it also deals with human rights — the right of others on the road not to become part of a fatal accident. At times, the balance between personal freedom and the good of society is hard to achieve, but this law is equally important as the law dealing with DUI.

This issue has been addressed by a number of other states and resulted in very positive results. South Carolinians don’t have less common sense than other Americans.

Saba E. Demian, M.D.

Columbia