Texting & Driving Fines
- Details
- Category: Teen Driving
Should Lawmakers Increase Fines For Texting
Texting and driving has received national attention with Oprah Winfrey’s recent campaign and promotion for her “No Phone Zone” program. However, the increase in driver texting behind the wheel has really become a national epidemic. Making the situation worse is the fact that now almost everyone carries a cellular smart phone, and many do not view texting and driving as that serious of a danger. Unfortunately, the statistics are now showing that texting and driving is more dangerous than other behaviors more associated with poor/impaired driving such as drinking and driving. If the new statistics revealing the true nature of how dangerous texting and driving are accurate, should lawmakers increase the fine associated with texting and driving?
Drinking Under The Influence
GPS Tracker Shop editors asked everyday folks what they believed was the most dangerous behavior associated with driving unanimously stated that driving under the influence was the worst thing a driver could do. There are a number of sociological reasons for this belief that include public awareness of the dangers with DUI, social stigma and the heavy penalties associated with the behavior. However, the new belief is that texting is more dangerous than drinking while driving, but nobody seems to be taking note.
Looking into the fines associated with drinking and driving, our GPS tracking systems editors discovered that the average fine is approximately $1500.00, but that does not include the mandatory alcoholics anonymous meetings, community service, loss of driving privileges and more. A quick glance at the penalties associated with DUI clearly outlines the seriousness lawmakers and police have placed on the behavior. However, lawmakers have yet to get tough when it comes to texting while driving.
Currently, people found guilty of texting while driving will not have their license suspended, will not have to attend any meetings and will not have to pay costly fines. This is mainly due to the fact that most states are just now creating legislation that makes it illegal to operate a handheld device such as a cellular phone while driving an automobile. Regardless, the dangers associated with distracted driving, with texting while driving, are very real. That is why considering legislation to make the penalties more severe for such behavior would be a constructive way to eliminate texting by teen motorists.
Teen Driving Opinion
Should lawmakers buckle down on teens that engage in texting and driving by suspending the licenses of those found guilty of the very dangerous driving habit?
If you were a parent and caught your teen texting while operating a vehicle, what type of punishment would you give? Would you punish your teen at all?
Do you believe that texting and driving is as dangerous or more dangerous than drinking while driving?