According to research statistics approximately 1.6 million crashes occur annually as a result of texting while driving (Ameen). Even through there are consequences associated with the offense, they are not enough. Concerning this, in New York one of the consequences is a fine ranging from 50 to about 200 dollars; thus for the first time offenders. The second offense occurring within a period of 18 months has a maximum fine of $250 (Distracted Driving, Talking & Texting). As a result of these lenient fines or rather punishments people do not take these offenses seriously consequently, they just pay the fines and become reoffenders over and over again. However, if jail time was required for this offense, the number of offenders would decrease immensely. Therefore, in an effort to prevent the rising number of road crashes thereby, reducing the number of fatalities, texting while driving should be a serious offense that requires the offender to serve an immeasurable jail term.
Texting while Driving
In the modern-day world; marked by numerous technological advancements, smartphones, the internet, and social media platforms are considered as some of man's greatest creations. As a result, their use particularly smartphones has grown unprecedently over the last few decades, in the contemporary world, they exist as not only an integral but also an indispensable part of peoples' lives mostly teenagers and young adults. Texting while driving involves the act of composing, sending, as well as reading either emails, text messages or even making similar use of the internet on a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. Texting has emerged as an addiction for every person especially teenagers who are now accessing smartphones as at very tender age when they barely understand the responsibilities attached with these devices.
Therefore, some of the reasons behind texting while driving include smartphone and mobile phone addiction which in turn, causes lack of impulse control. As a result teens are prone to make rash as well as impulsive decisions to check on their phone or answer texts while driving without properly thinking through the consequences of their actions (Thrush). Another reason why teens text while driving is over-confidence in their driving abilities, or simply because many do not realize how much of a distractions phones are. Moreover, many drivers believe in their ability to multitask, this is because most of them are adept at handling many tasks at the same (Thrush). time while at home, however, the problem with texting while driving is the fact that both tasks require equal attention; hence, they have no room for error which most teens fail to comprehend. Another major reason why most people text while driving; particularly teenagers and young adults is due to risk taking behaviors. In relation to this, most people get thrills for engaging in "driving rash" and indulging in wrong behaviors or prohibited behaviors such as using mobile phones while driving.
The primary reason why texting while driving causes accidents is based on the fact that, texting causes destruction (Halsey). Concerning this, there are three primary types of distractions which include visual destruction which involves taking one's eyes off the road to gaze at the smart phone or mobile phone, the second type of destruction is manual distraction which entails taking one's hand or rather hands off the motor vehicle's steering wheel and lastly cognitive distraction which involves taking one's mind off the road or driving (DMV.Org). Distracted driving is therefore caused by anything that causes one to take their eyes, hands, and mind off driving. Consequently, the primary reason why texting and driving results in numerous accidents is because it involves all three types of distraction. Thus, all it takes is a driver to take their mind, hand (s), and eyes off the road for only three seconds for a major accident to occur (Halsey).
Changes to Legislations on Texting While Driving
In most US states such as Florida, texting while driving exists a secondary offense which means that a law enforcement officer must see another road violation such as speeding; thus before pulling over to cite the driver for texting, as a result, secondary offenses are extremely difficult to enforce (Associated Press) Moreover, when found guilty, the perpetrators are only forced to pay small amounts of fines, due to lenient fines or rather punishments people do not take these offenses seriously consequently, they just pay the fines and become reoffenders over and over again which in most instances resulted in loss of lives.
Therefore, in an effort to prevent the rising number of road crashes thereby, reducing the number of fatalities, texting while driving should be a serious offense that requires the offender to serve an immeasurable jail term. To make the laws effective, texting while driving should be a primary offense; hence, the perpetrator does not have to commit another road violation to be arrested. Moreover, proposed jail terms should range from one year for first time offenders up to 5 years for repeat offenders. The intensity of the punishment should also increase depending on the intensity of the accidents such as the damage to property caused as well as the number of lives caused due to accidents resulting from texting while driving. Such strict prison sentences are essential as they will acts as a deterrence to the crime. Concerning this, the types of deterrence arising from long prison sentences include specific deterrence where an individual is sentenced to serve a prison sentence for texting while driving he/she is theoretically less likely to commit the same crime due to fear of another worse punishment. Another type of deterrence that will be realized by the implementing prison sentences for texting and driving is general deterrence whereby, if the public learns of a person locked behind bars for texting and driving, people are less likely to commit the same crime (Criminal Law: The Purposes of Punishment). Apart from instilling fear in both the offender and the public lengthy prison sentences will also allow offenders to get rehabilitated while in prison; thus ensuring they keep off their phone while on the wheel.
In conclusion, modern-day less punitive laws and penalties having failed to deal with the rising number of accidents; particularly among teens due to texting while driving, it is therefore, crucial for stricter punishments particularly lengthy prison sentences for texting while driving offences to be established.
Another reason why these laws are important is because the behavior of texting while driving is easily controlled as people tend to engage in them as a result of ignorance, risk taking behaviors and overconfidence. By establishing laws that make texting and driving a serious offense is necessary to reduce the number of accidents as well as fatalities caused by this action.
Works Cited
Ameen, L. “The 25 Scariest Texting and Driving Accident Statistics”. (2016). https://www.icebike.org/texting-and-driving/
Associated Press. “In Florida, Texting And Driving Still Not A Primary Offense”. (2018). http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/florida-texting-and-driving-still-not-primary-offense
“Criminal Law: The Purposes of Punishment”. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, (2015). http://open.lib.umn.edu/criminallaw/chapter/1-5-the-purposes-of-punishment/
“Distracted Driving, Talking " Texting”. New York State, (n.d.). http://safeny.ny.gov/phon-ndx.htm
DMV.Org. “Three Types of Driving Distractions”. (n.d.). https://www.dmv.org/distracted-driving/three-types-of-distractions.php
Halsey, A. Smartphones are distracting, but many seem willing to accept the risks. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/smart-phones-are-distracting-but-many-users-seem-willing-to-accept-the-risks/2015/12/21/5bfc6420-a5b4-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_story.html?noredirect=on"utm_term=.1293eb4e290e
Thrush, T. “Psychiatrist Explains Why We Text and Drive”. Voice of America News, (2016). https://www.voanews.com/a/psychiatrist-explains-why-we-text-drive/3467803.html
