Texting while driving is a scenario that is familiar to most students at UF, and the concept of cell-phone-addicted-screaming-girl is a trope that is ubiquitous in our current pop culture. (We recently saw it in an episode of the Jonas Brothers/ TV show, so like, even babies know about it. Don/t ask.)
What should also be familiar, though, is the fact that nothing strikes fear into the heart of a passenger faster than the sight of his or her driver (and possible gatekeeper into the afterlife) lower his or her chance of a safe arrival with each staccato of the fingertips.
To counter this, six states and Washington D.C. have enacted a strict ban on texting while driving and made it a ticketable offense. Florida, however, has not taken it that far. Instead of outlawing the practice, Florida is attempting to kill the habit with "awareness."
We don/t think this is the best approach. People are aware of the danger inherent in many activities but continue to do them anyway (Camel Light, anyone?). It is obvious to everyone with half a brain that driving without a seat belt isn/t such a hot idea, but some of us still won/t wear one until we are busted with a $70 fine.
So why doesn/t Florida follow suit and ban texting while driving? Put simply, fear of big government. We understand this concern, and it seems reasonable to let people make their own decisions and worry about the consequences.
However, it seems silly to set this issue apart from things that are already criminal like drug abuse and seat-belt wearing requirements, especially because these "infractions" are only harmful (or potentially harmful) for those who engage in them. To set texting while driving apart from other activities such as driving while intoxicated and shooting people by only suggesting they "try not to do it," is insane considering those activities put innocent people at risk of death, whether it be by a 3,000 pound speeding deathmobile or a handgun.
Try telling a girl (possibly the cell-phone-addicted-screaming-girl) that drunken driving isn/t a good idea, but she won/t get in trouble if she downs 97 cosmos at XS before jumping into her lime green Volkswagen Beetle to head to the "after party" with her "ladies." We don/t think she/d listen.
One might ask, "Well, if we ban texting, what/s to stop drivers from being distracted by iPods in their cars?" and it would be a legitimate concern. However, texting requires more reading and more constant attention than song selection. Unless someone is apt to change his or her song choice approximately every three seconds, it wouldn/t be as dangerous as carrying out a full-blown conversation. (And if such person exists, they probably shouldn/t be allowed to drive anyway.)
Florida/s decision to use a soft approach in addressing this matter is spineless. Because they fear the reproach of self-proclaimed "texters," the government refuses to protect the citizens who are at the mercy of the texters. When that includes us, our friends and our moms (who take 25 minutes to figure out how to text "call me," God bless 'em), it leads us to think that Florida isn/t really concerned with protecting its citizens.
