[smcallah @ Sep 8th 2007 3:34PM]

This kind of punishment for texting or using other distractions behind the wheel of a car seem almost appropriate to me. Perhaps they should only be applied when an "accident" occurs because of it and someone is injured.

I say "accident" because obviously, texting behind the wheel and having a wreck is not an accident, the person knew they were doing something stupid.

I think more "accidents" that people have need to be considered crimes, beyond someone dying in an accident. If someone is tailgating another car, and ends up hitting the car, that is no "accident" and should be punished as an actual crime, not a traffic offense. Same thing with running a red light and hitting someone else and damaging their property and person. Those are not accidents.

Punishments need to be increased to misdemeanors and felonies with jail time to turn around the state of driving in this day and age.

[Andrew Dakns @ Sep 27th 2007 11:00PM]

"Perhaps they should only be applied when an "accident" occurs because of it and someone is injured."

That's just like saying people drinking and driving should only be charged if they get in accident _and someone is injured_.

People should take note that about 99% of all accidents are caused by human error. Texting and/or drinking while driving both subdue the brain and therefore it could cause the person to make a mistake and perhaps an accident.

[chris @ Sep 8th 2007 5:55PM]

"Perhaps they should only be applied when an "accident" occurs because of it and someone is injured."

but british government is of the inclination that, prevention is better than cure. in the real world, the implementation of the law would require far more police time (government knows this) so instead, scare the shit out of people and hope they dont break it.

chris

[Hawkman @ Sep 8th 2007 6:55PM]

"but british government is of the inclination that, prevention is better than cure."

You're kidding, right? Our police are concerned primarily with power, secondarily by money, and also with government targets. By making such things as this into a more serious offence, they make their figures look better - they're catching more "criminals". Obviously, it satisfies the power lust. I just hope they don't get a cut of any income - like they do with our speed cameras. (Remember how they proliferated after the police started getting a cut of the revenue?)

Texting while driving is a stupid and dangerous thing to do. It does not, however, deserve this kind of punishment. If an accident is caused, bring a charge of dangerous driving. If a death is caused, bring a manslaughter charge. The mobile phone use in itself is not such a serious crime that it requires a prison sentence.