Quote:
Originally Posted by driveway
Considering the vehemence demonstrated towards people who drive while intoxicated, do you all favour similarly harsh punishments for people who talk on the phone while driving?
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No. If the punishment is so severe that it digs a hole that the criminal can't see a way out of you are doing more harm and good. Take away someones ability to work or even seek work and you will beget more criminal behaviour.
It is good that society in general has determined drunk driving to be a shameful act. Peer pressure will do a lot more to prevent drunk driving than anything else. I think the law is pretty fair where it stands. They might be able to do more for repeat offenders. Perhaps they should be prohibited them from drinking for life rather than driving. If they can't stop drinking than jail them until there is some indication of a change in self control.
Those who use cell phones while they drive could be banned from possessing or using a cell phone for 1 full year.
One think we have to remember is that statistically speaking if you drive drunk tonight or chose to use your cell phone while you drive home tonight you are probably not going to get into an accident. You are also probably not going to be stopped and checked either. For those who have made either a habit of one or the other sighting some obscure accident statistic isn't likely to have a great effect. The best way to change such behaviour is through society taking a strong moral stance against it. If you know some behaviour of yours makes you everybody's whipping boy you change that behaviour fast. Nobody likes being dumped on.