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Can Handing Out 'Txting Kills' Thumb Bands Stop People From Texting While Driving?
from the beats-bad-laws dept
We've pointed out that some recent studies have suggested that laws that ban texting-while-driving may have actually made the roads more dangerous, because it hasn't stopped people from texting, but just caused them to further hide the activity by holding the phone down low -- forcing them to take their eyes off the road more. This isn't to say that we think texting while driving is a good idea -- it's not. But just because you pass a law trying to ban a really dumb idea, it doesn't mean it will have the desired effect, and the early evidence suggests that there are serious unintended consequences with these laws.
Instead of laws, I think that a combination of education and technology could be a lot more effective, and it appears that at least some law enforcement folks are trying to increase the educational aspect. Parker Mason points us to the news that police in Iowa have started issuing "Txting Kills" thumb bands (sort of like the Livestrong bracelets... but for your thumb) rather than tickets to those caught texting while driving (they're also just handing them out at schools). It's nice to see an educational component, rather than just strict punishment, but I'm not convinced that thumb bands alone will do the trick...
Instead of laws, I think that a combination of education and technology could be a lot more effective, and it appears that at least some law enforcement folks are trying to increase the educational aspect. Parker Mason points us to the news that police in Iowa have started issuing "Txting Kills" thumb bands (sort of like the Livestrong bracelets... but for your thumb) rather than tickets to those caught texting while driving (they're also just handing them out at schools). It's nice to see an educational component, rather than just strict punishment, but I'm not convinced that thumb bands alone will do the trick...
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Ear-pieces next?
PS: +1 for the idea.
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... is it bad that I want one?
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Why Not Just Send Them “Txting Kills” Txts?
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Preaching to the choir?
Over here in Rightpondia (at least in the local jurisdiction) the police do not check mobile phones after incidents and accidents - as a policy. Mustn't offend the chattering classes. IMO classifying any mobile phone usage as negligence would do a lot to end the problem - imagine if insurance companies could refuse to be involved if e.g. someone had texted and caused an accident. Even better, if in possession of a mobe at the time of impact the burden of proof would fall on the possessor and guilt would be presumed. *That* would bring home the message, hitting the general public in the one organ it cares about the most - the wallet. A few high-profile cases where ordinary people are fleeced for damages and people would catch on that mobe usage in a car is bad for your health. "Pour encourager les autres" is such an effective approach... :-)
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Re: Preaching to the choir?
Seriously, people, think things all the way through before you post them.
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Why don't we
Rubber bracelets and car ribbons only support one thing... the manufacture of rubber bracelets and car ribbons. Still waiting to get my "I support car sticker manufacturing" ribbon for my car. Do they make "Rubber Bracelet" rubber bracelets?
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It's the distractions
You'll never see an ad campaign with a haggard mom with three screaming kids in the back of a mini-van on the billboards. I can just see the slogan: "Driving while being a moo-me kills"
Testing while driving?! I never do. I communicate with RTF formatted e-mails while driving, so I'm safe...
Sheldon
Sheldon
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killer accessory
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Can we just simplify it to...
OR
Stupidity Kills, don't be stupid.
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text and drive...and technology
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
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Re: text and drive...and technology
This isn't an issue that technology or a little thumb-bracelet is going to solve. It's going to stop when people realize that driving a car is operating a 1/2ton+ killing machine that requires full concentration. Do I get distracted while driving? Occasionally, yes. But I have the wherewithal to chastise myself and feel like an ass for letting my attention wander. Just like I how I feel that I'm the stupidest moron on the road when that yellow light doesn't last as long as I thought it would.
But you know what? I've never had an accident because I wasn't paying attention. Only once because I assumed someone had pulled off without verifying. And I never contested my own idiocy for that action.
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TEXTING KILLS Thumb Bands now available.
We now have stock Thumb Bands in both Blue and Pink in three sizes - IN STOCK.
Ken 877-753-5739
http://awareness.kelseypromo.com
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Re: TEXTING KILLS Thumb Bands now available.
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Thumb Bands
www.textingkillsthumbbands.com
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i want one
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