Cops Impound Cell Phone of Texting Driver for 48 Hours
A recent shift in the distracted driving law has granted the police the authority to confiscate and impound cell phones of drivers who are caught texting while driving. Drivers caught texting are subject to a fine, and the police may confiscate the driver’s phone for up to 48 hours. Just long enough for that cell phone dependent driver to really feel the loss of their “companion”, but not so long as to justify going out to pick up a loaner.
The hope is that depriving the driver of their beloved cell phone will serve as a greater deterrent than any fine that might be imposed.
I should pause at this point to mention that the foregoing is complete fiction. However, if you’ve gotten this far it means that the concept has grabbed your attention, and that is really the point of this post.
Distracted driving (and specifically texting while driving) is a problem on our roads. Some would suggest that distracted driving is a greater hazard than impaired driving.
It seems to me that much like speeding, the risk of simply getting a ticket is not deterring drivers, young or old, from typing away on their phones while they drive.
Would the ability to seize and impound cell phones do the trick?
I was genuinely surprised that anyone would try to text while driving, until my wife asked something at the cottage once, and I dug our my phone while still driving… and then realized I should perhaps hand it to her (;-))
I suspect it’s a very automatic, learned, behaviour, and not something thought about. That, in turn, suggest it’s like breaking a habit, and will require repetition training, as well as the realization that one needs to do the training.
If your 24-hour enforced break is to have an effect, it probably should be accompanied by enrolement in an a “how to break habits” course targeting reflexive reaching for a phone.
This is a great idea! Too bad it isn’t enforced as of yet. People who text in drive, in my experience, don’t grasp the concept of how dangerous it is until it becomes dangerous to them personally by being involved in an accident or a “close call”. It shouldn’t take a close call or someone getting hurt for people to understand how dangerous distracted driving is! It’s just common sense! If you’re eyes are not on the road, you have the opportunity to get hurt or worse, to hurt someone else.
Where’s the Like button when you need it?