Social Engineering to Fix the Problem

As I said before, this is viewed as more of a social problem as opposed to a technological problem. We love our cell phones, they allow us to talk to anyone, at any time. Feeling anti-social but still need human contact? Overly neurotic about not saying the exact. right. thing. ? Just send a text then, much easier.

Since this is seen as more of a social problem, the highest order of social protectors, namely the law, has decided that it is their place to step in. Can't blame them, with the number of what is colloquially known as "distracted driving" deaths on the rise.

So what's the first thing that happens when lawmakers decide that they don't like something? They outlaw it of course! (worked so well with Cannabis didn't it...?) So there has been a push the past few years to adopt legislation banning and levying fines against people who use cell phones while they drive.

Highway Safety Institute Cell Phone Laws by State

Too bored to read that? I'll give you a TL;DR. New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Hawaii Idaho and Nevada are the only states without any restrictions on cell phone use of any kind. It is interesting to note that outside of Hawaii, which is often out of the loop anyways, living all by itself on that tiny set of islands far out to sea, most of these places are pretty open areas. Not drawing any conclusions, just wanted to link them together somehow, nothing like good ol' state camaraderie.

Connecticut (where I live) has rather tough laws on cell phone use. And the cops do indeed enforce these laws, they're pretty much a money piñata, bursting at the seams, and the police have rather large sticks. And no blindfolds. And guns.

Anyways, back on topic, campaigns running imaginative ads like this one;

 

(Probably in between the "Welcome to Connecticut" sign and the one behind it saying "For the love of god turn around and never look back, get out while you can")

These ads have been popping more and more prolifically across the country, seemingly more popular than drunk driving ads, but yet second best to the Click it or Ticket campaign, at least in CT.

 (Fear the click it or ticket beetle. FEAR IT)

So yeah, long story short, they've decided that the best way to counteract "distracted driving" is to run ad campaigns and change laws essentially outlawing the act. Actually, social change this way, as ham fisted as it is, seems to work. Look at drunk driving, since law enforcement really started stepping up its efforts to cut down on this (and it is awful don't get me wrong) it's gone from something everyone seems to do, to a one way ticket to social pariah-hood. And that's not a bad thing in the slightest. 

I've never really seen the point of texting/talking on the phone while driving, then again I'm never driving more than an hour or so at a stretch, and I'm in college so I don't get many calls that simply can't wait. And when I do, I can just use speaker.