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I doubt if I'm smart enough to place new designs on our justice system but here's the result of a 20-year old texting when he drove head-on into an acquaintance of mine. Everyone died.
The car was the Kia owned by my acquaintance.
Last edited by High_Plains_Retired; 09-09-2014 at 05:01 PM..
I doubt if I'm smart enough to place new designs on our justice system but here's the result of a 20-year old texting when he drove head-on into an acquaintance of mine. Everyone died.
Have the courts slap a $100 monthly charge--payable to the county--on their phone bill and place them on an offenders list. They'll either pay it or close the account. But have new providers check the offenders list and not issue them a new cell phone if they're on the list.
Texting is a "refinement"?? of the old adolescent game of passing notes in class -- as such it appeals to the natural resentment of authority and structure among the young. Unfortunately, at that age, most people don't quickly recognize the possible consequences of what seems like "harmless" rebellion.
But coming down hard -- mandatory time in adult venues like the county jail -- might backfire. The point here would seem to be not "harsh" punishment so much as forfeiture of even a greater amount of time and autonomy than what the abuser originally though they were gaining. And the forced subservience should be conducted in as dull, bureaucratic and time-consuming a venue as possible.
I doubt if I'm smart enough to place new designs on our justice system but here's the result of a 20-year old texting when he drove head-on into an acquaintance of mine. Everyone died.
The car was the Kia owned by my acquaintance.
Sadly your acquaintance is not around to push for legislation to help curb this epidemic because his young life was snuffed out senselessly.
Unfortunately he is not alone as many people are being maimed, paralyzed, and killed by these texting zombies.
It boils down to their own selfishness and narcissism thinking every moment of their lives is important enough to communicate with other people just as depraved. Not that conducting business or other productive things would justify distracted driving, but the typical text of OMG, LOL, etc., results in tragedy more often than most imagine.
I dont condone texting while driving whatsoever, but if you're going to impose fines/imprisonment for texting while driving, then shouldnt the same apply to changing your radio station while driving?...adjusting the hvac controls while driving?....adjusting your mirror while driving?...holding on to and drinking a beverage while driving?....talking to any passengers in the car while driving?....etc. All those mentioned fall under "distracted driving". Many people like to single out cell phone use as the main reason for accidents yet distracted driving accidents have been happening for many years before the cell phone even existed!
Sadly your acquaintance is not around to push for legislation to help curb this epidemic because his young life was snuffed out senselessly.
Thank you for the reply but I apologize. Perhaps I should have provided a bit more details. My acquaintance was in her late 60s and her husband was in his early 70s. It was the 20-year old who swerved into their lane while texting.
I agree that this falls within the category of epidemic. I lost a Camry, and almost my wife, a few years ago to a lady using a cell phone.
The reason is because texting requires your eyes to be off the road far more often than eating or talking to a passenger. In fact, I can talk and watch the road at the same time. I don't have to stare at the person in my passenger seat in order to carry on a conversation. Eating is only a big nuisance if you're stupid enough to order messy foods from the drive-thru. If you have to constantly adjust your food so it isn't spilling all over the place, dropping things onto your lap, and falling apart in your hands, then you shouldn't be driving with it. But a lot of foods are "self contained" such as French fries and nuggets and most fast food burgers (just don't order one with an insane amount of toppings; a regular Quarter Pounder, for instance, is usually not an issue).
I just want to point out that it appears that you're saying it's OK to eat a Quarter Pounder while driving, but eating a Whopper is reckless.
I'd really love to see how that law appears on the books.
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