Driving While Using a Cell Phone or Texting

Driving while using a cell phone or texting can distract you from keeping your full attention on the road and other drivers. This can lead to serious accidents which could be otherwise prevented.

The concept of deterrence is to sway a person away from doing something with a harsh punishment. Unfortunately driving while using a cell phone or texting isn’t a major offense but can turn into a bad situation as an end result. In my area of the Piedmont Triad of NC a law has been passed banning texting while driving and also recommends users use a Bluetooth or headset to keep their hands on the wheel.

Deterrence in my opinion is a classical concept because individuals do it as their own free will. Most individuals have that mind concept that they will never get caught. It’s impossible for police to pull over everyone they see with a phone in their hand while driving. Most cities don’t have the manpower for that besides there are more serious crimes being committed that do require police presence.

A suggestion for a deterrent punishment would be license suspension and/or stiff fines. If someone was given a stiff fine more than likely that would deter them from texting while driving. Also suspending someone’s license may also deter them from texting while driving. Personally I love my license and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize losing it and I definitely wouldn’t want to have to pay a stiff fine especially when money doesn’t come easy these days.

A characteristic of potential offenders that will influence whether or not deterrence will work would be the age of the individual. Majority of the time it’s the young generation that are driving while using a cell phone or texting. I believe deterrence efforts will work mainly on young people because they are at a stage in life where they want their freedom. For older individuals it probably wouldn’t have that much of an effect on.

In order to achieve deterrence as a state, first videos need to be shown to...