Cell Phones and Driving: Should Text Messaging Cost Lives?

Text messaging had become the newest wave of communication today for teens and adults alike. But, after yesterday's 'Dr.Phil' show, we need to strongly begin looking at the problem with a lot more scrutiny as we move forward in this Era of Information.

It used to be that the cell phone when it first began in the 1980's the only thing that people were able to do was place a phone call. Now, with the newest technologies available from having a camera in your phone, an MP3 player, Internet access and text messaging, it has become an all-inclusive entertainment system very much like a video game console and also the ultimate in sitractions when one is driving. With all of these new accessories, it is not a wonder that people could be and can be easily distracted on the road. We see it every day as we go to work. We may even do it oursleves, as we pick up the phone and make a call to a family member, friend , or maybe even the job, as we make a slight turn on the street as we make our way to the supermarket to pick up a gallon of milk. Sound simple? Well, what most people do not understand is that while we may feel that we are fully in control of our automobiles as we talk on the phone, we do not realize that dangers that can come from when we take a minute to answer our phones. Those dangers can fall in the form of pedestrians, bicyclists, and perhaps even other motorists that may be going the same way as them, who simply just do not pay attention when they are talking.

On yesterday's show, Dr. Phil introduced us to a teen that averaged nearly 5,000 text messages a day! This teen has only had her driver's license for four months, and had already ran her vehicle into a guard rail, onto the shoulder, and other places while she was text messaging and driving at the same time. In order for her to see the errors of her ways, the good doctor placed her in a driving simulator and wanted her to take another driving test, just to see how she would do while she text messaged. What I saw from the results were shocking, as the young girl at different times had lost control of her vehicle on hairpin turns, had not signaled to other oncoming vehicles as she switched lanes, and so forth. She had even ran her car into an emergency services vehicle full force head-on! Her score had turned out to be a 10, and you have to have a 70 to even think about passing in the state of California. After seeing this show, should this not say that text messaging has become a problem?

On this same show, Dr. Phil had also invited yet another teen who willingly came on the show to grant his story, where he had actually killed a bicyclist, a father of two and grandfather of one, while he was text messaging driving to the video store with his girlfriend. While this is a newer controversy that is occurring more often than not in today's society, what can we do about it? Most people who have a cell phone would probably say that 'having a cell phone is not illegal'. While true, where do we draw the line on when a cell phone becomes a liability to not only the driver but also to non-drivers that are on the road?

With the death rate climbing, though even still miniscule, this is an area where legislation has not been placed into full effect and where parents have been found lacking when it comes to safety issues concerning the portable phone. While most parents today view the cell phone as a means of keeping track of their children and where they are, children on the other hand have seen this small device as a way of keeping up with trends and their friends who may be minutes away whom they are going to be seeing soon anyway.

Where children and teens have made their ultimate mistake with cell phones is they do not understand the full responsibilites that come with having one. They do not understand that talking on the cell phone can be compared to the same as driving under the influence, such as with drugs or alcohol. While it is an electronic device rather than something one ingests or smokes or shoots, it still can also be classified in its own way as a narcotic of its own. If cell phones are to become the new fashion drug of the era, should we not at least think of doing something to regulate it?

In suggestion, it is time that our legislators find a means by which to regulate the use of cell phones in moving vehicles, and don't simply use a slogan that is like the 'Say No To Drugs' campaign. There need to be laws created that enforce when and where cell phones may be used, and that should include its non-use while motoring to destinations. While it may be of an inconvenience to the driver, it increases the safety of those that do not drive, and makes the roads safer. It also cuts down the need for law enforcement officials and emergency services to have to respond to an accident that could have easily been avoided.

Also, why can't our auto industry become involved in this crusade? With the advent of new technologies like Onstar Navigation and computerized locks, why can't there be a form of a jamming system placed in automobiles where the car will not start while your cell phone is activated? Perhaps something that can be looked into?

While there are measures that can be implemented, what needs to be done now is swifter action. Parentes need to become more involved with cell phone and text monitoring when it comes to their teens to make sure they do not become a danger to others on the road. If you feel that this is becoming a problem, would it not be safe to say that the logical thing that one would do is to remove the problem? While it may create a lot of hurt feelings amongst your younger generations, it will keep them from looking at possible other harsher realities, such as jail time because they accidentally hit someone. When in doubt, take the phone out! (*Take it out of the situation, that is!)