6 ways cops catch you texting and driving.

[AirMoore]

How about we start holding the people that text adn drive and crash accountable when they hit someone or crash? This country does nothing but make laws with the thought that it will save a life!!!...

Ok, welp. Here we go. I haven't had a lively debate on the forums in a long time, I've been too busy. This should be fun, for me.

Keeping in the scope of texting and driving here:

1) WE DO hold them accountable. In this sense we hold them "more accountable" once this has been "proven". Depending on local laws, it's often a aggravating factor in a case.

2) If no one was able to text and drive or use their cellphones and drive (if it was somehow made impossible), it is a categorical fact that thousands fewer would die on the roads. Indeed, many fewer accidents would occur yearly. This would objectively save tens of thousands of lives, and likely many (hundreds of millions) of dollars through the next decade. Simpson and Wilson published a fantastic study on this in 2010. Rudimentary, but nice.

3) It's not even an embedded activity, in relation to the action of driving.

So no it's not a "thought" that it will save a life, it is empirically proven that it will save thousands, and would likely save many (hundreds of) millions financially. Accidents, repairs, ER visits, lawyers, disabilities etc.

It is just like guns, If we take all the guns off the streets then we will be a safer country, NOT People that obey the law are the only ones that will have NO control over anything in there life....

No, it's not just like guns. It's nothing like guns. I loathe dismantling arguments like this, because they are so off base, they don't even deserve reply.

1) Guns are a very special case, people need to stop relating things to them. They are one of the few things today that are (nearly) explicitly mentioned in the Constitution (ie: they exited then and now). So the arguments for them from a legal aspect are markedly different.

2) Guns themselves can protect you, and others, in a life-threatening situation. Texting while you are driving (as shown above) does not. Indeed the antipodal is the truth (as shown above), you are more likely to die texting while driving. Texting while driving only facilitates social interaction in almost every case. Here is the kicker, in the case that you are using your phone in the case of an emergency, once you prove you are dialing 911 (or similar) you can actually become exempt from the texting and driving laws... for the very fact you would be using it to save a life rather than social interaction.

3) Guns (often) have restrictions on them as well about when, and where, they can be carried on the person. Often times schools, courtrooms, bars (or under the influence), all have laws etc.

I dont want to get hit by someone texting or not, But has anyone sat an watched some of todays youth drive? Its scary..
Make me wonder how they got there license.... Let alone be able to text and drive? Hell half of the youth down here cant chew bubble gum and walk!!!

Isn't this all the more reason to uhhh... have these laws in place.

Also, before you say "but yeah, maybe for the kids" you need to look up the concept of the "personal fable".

So If anyone that thinks that because some 16 or 17 year old kid that can hardley chew gum and walk should be the deciding factor when it comes to law that affect me, an adult with only GOD knows how many miles under his belt is preposterous....

Wait, here it is... the personal fable. It's funny that you misspell "hardley", yet it's those damn kids who can't text and drive. Though kids may not be as capable at driving, you likely absolutely suck compared to texting relative to the majority of kids today. So, it evens out... you can drive better and have more skill there, many kids almost assuredly know their way around a cellphone better than you. SO when it comes to texting and driving, you (may) have an advantage in one area (driving), yet conveniently you neglect that many kids have the other portion far more sorted than you (texting). Comical, really.

Also, in NY the punishment for young drivers is more severe.

Also, it's funny that you use miles as a qualifier. That is the exact logic that LEO's use to be exempt from these laws "well, we are trained to use our equipment" "we use it everyday, and it's how law enforcement has done it for years".


If you would like me to dismantle any more of your arguments, please post them below. I will do so in turn.