Should the government increase penalties for distracted driving?

No

Yes, but part of the issue is that mass adoption touchscreens in cars requires greater attention than analog consoles and should be addressed first.

Yes, but 'penalties' is too vague considering they vary from state to state.

Yes, but only by increased penalties for injuries and property damage in crashes caused by distracted driving, not by new laws.

To address the issue of distracted driving the government should invest in public transit - less drivers = less car fatales

Depends on how many offenses the individual has. I believe that they deserve a second chance, but after that, yes, increase the penalties.

No, but it should provide tax breaks for buyers of cars with technology that allows drivers to interface with their smartphones via the entertainment system instead of holding their phones in their hands

yes because most drivers that are distracted while driving can cause accidents and or even death of other people.

Yes. However, we need to address the replacement of analog consoles with touchscreens, as that is a strong contributor.

No, but court procedures and insurance claims for those wounded in accidents should be made faster and more accessible.

They need to focus on enforcement of laws prohibiting speeding and reckless driving with cameras and police on the roads

Yes, because of how many accident happen because the driver is distracted by something or their phone, expecilly if someone is hurt or worse.

Yes, but make the punishment relative to the driver's income so lower income individuals are not disproportionately affected.

Yes, because if you are on the road you should be engage and not getting distracted like texting and driving.

Yes, but rather than spending money to enforce it, spend taxpayer dollars on expanding public transportation quality and bandwidth to reduce car dependency

Yes, lower speed limits, loosen "jaywalking" laws, and put more responsibility on drivers for pedestrian safety

If they are on their phone and purposely being distracted yes, if they are distracted from a kid or something else in the back having an emergency then no.

Distracted driving should essentially be reclassified as a less severe derivative of a DUI. Only issue the driver a corresponding DUI if they were literally DUI’d and only issue a corresponding DWI if they were literally intoxicated.

Regardless, the government should put more funding towards free public transportation to lower the amount of cars on roads and therefore lower distracted driving

Yes. Distracted Driving should result in people losing driving privileges on public roads. Although this is another thing that needs to be voted on by the community. As technology develops so does what we consider distracted driving.

Instead of penalties, better education on car safety and a better car culture should be nurtured. The main penalty should be revocation of a drivers license when necessary.

somewhat yes but somewhat no, are laws are strict enough on it so i really don't think making it stricter is gonna work

Yes, unless it was an urgent matter that was unavoidable at the moment. Ex. dealing with disobedient children.

If the distracted driving is a cause of injury or death it should be a increased penalty, if the distracted driving becomes a common problem the penalty should be raised even if no harm was caused

Yes and go after the manufacturers of these devices that are causing all of these distraction problems. Why do i have to tell google maps that I saw a cop on the highway, while driving...this is a perfect example of distracted driving. How is that notification allowed while driving?

yes, but a big proponent to this is we have new cars that have larger and larger touchscreens that require more concentration to work and use than analog cars and vehicles.

Yes, two strikes should be license revocation and required attendance of an initial certification class

I think every warning or ticket you get for distracted driving the consequence gets higher and higher.

No because the government dont need stuff like that they need to put money in mental health hospital do to putting people in jail is not helping that one person to do right

The government should not own property or roads and all of it should be privatized and therefore the owners of the now private roads should determine how best to care for and regulate their roads

Yes, kill working class distracted driver especially in rich areas where superior people are being put at risk

I feel like the rules we have right now in Washington are not bad, and I don't think we should change anything. I think.

Drunk driving penalties have not made a difference so why would it change distracted driving. Policies need to be enforced! Losing a license for life in European countries is a deterrent that has saved lives.

It mostly depends on distraction. If it’s an important call like your mother in an emergency, it’s okay to answer, but in otherwise not.

It depends how it would be implimented...the line between what is distracting or not may be different for each person

Increasing the penalties on distracted driving wont entirely prohibit drivers from avoiding distractions. There is a chance that those who dangerously drive won't get caught in the act of doing so. They may also become more discrete about their habits so it isn't as easy to be caught and penalized

Leave it to the individual State Governments, and should be not be decided by the Federal Government

It's hard to implement. Yes especially if the distracted driving results in an accident, injury and death.

I think they should becuase of texting and driving. Ithink if you have the mirco phone in your car your hands free from you phone and allows you to stay safe and other drivers safe. And dui while driving are becoming more comman

I am satisfied with the current penalties for distracted driving. It should also depend if someone was killed or injured or not.

Yes, but adjust policy so that fines are calculated by percentage of income rather than a flat rate.

depending on the incident if nobody is injured no, but if people are injured then yes. it doesnt take someone smart to do 2 things at once

Yes, texting or drinking while driving is a disgusting thing that should be punished, it proves that you have no regard for the people around you.

YES. I feel like people do not take it seriously, and it needs to be taken care of. A wide vast death is caused by this very year, and it's not taken seriously. It needs to be implemented and taken seriously.

Alone Won’t Solve It
While penalties can play a role in discouraging distracted driving, they only work if combined with systemic changes—such as better education, awareness, and technology solutions. A sustainable approach targets the behavioral and societal factors driving the problem rather than just reacting after accidents occur.

The goal should be to shift the culture away from multitasking and connectivity while driving, creating infrastructure, incentives, and norms that make safer driving the default behavior.

it depends on the distraction such as being on the phone which in my opinion should be a higher penalty

The government should not be able to penalize any private actions that do not create a victim or infringe on the rights of another individual.

Distracted driving is as serious as holding a gun to another persons head and they should be punished accordingly when they cause harm.

Yes AND no: sometimes a distraction can keep you safe. It also depends on the situation... if someone is drunk driving then yes, they need to be punished. If something goes wrong with the car and they need to call 9-1-1 or something, then I don't think that they should be in as much trouble as they WOULD.

Yes, unless the driver has reckless driving, injured, or killed other citizens also look at their record, and if not go with a warning.

There is strong support for increasing penalties for distracted driving, as it is a significant factor in traffic fatalities and injuries, with over 3,000 lives lost annually to crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Proponents argue that stronger punishments and stricter laws are a necessary deterrent to reduce this dangerous behavior, especially given the recent increase in distracted driving violations.
Arguments for Increasing Penalties
High Fatality Rate:
Distracted driving is a major cause of crashes, resulting in…  Read more thousands of deaths each year, with a specific number of 3,275 lives lost in 2023 alone.
Deterrence:
Stricter penalties, such as increased fines or other consequences, can act as a deterrent to drivers, making them more likely to avoid using their phones or engaging in other distracting behaviors behind the wheel.
Evolving Threat:
Distracted driving is on the rise, particularly among younger generations like Gen Z, making stronger legal and safety measures increasingly important.
Broader Public Safety:
Beyond the driver, distracted driving endangers passengers, pedestrians, and other road users.
Alignment with State Laws:
Many states have already enacted and are updating their laws to address distracted driving, with some increasing penalties and broadening restrictions.
Counterarguments and Considerations
Criminalization:
Some argue that harsher sentences primarily increase the number of people criminalized without necessarily solving the underlying problem.
Alternative Solutions:
Other approaches include comprehensive public awareness campaigns, such as the NHTSA's "Put the Phone Away or Pay" initiative, which promotes safe driving habits and encourages drivers to take steps to reduce distractions.
Shared Responsibility:
The Safe System Approach emphasizes shared responsibility, suggesting that solutions should involve not only government intervention but also the private sector and the public.
In

Citizens should be temporarily deputized and allowed to extra-judicially execute all people who engage in distracted driving.

Yes, but ONLY if the distracted driver caused a major accident that resulted in serious injuries and/or death.

Governments should strive to make all vehicles autonomous so distracted drivers are no longer a risk.

Regulating distracted driving is impossible - it borders on fanaticism even in the light of safety. Other methods must be considered. The seatbelt took many years to implement and managing distracted driving has the same path - with self driving cars on the hotizon, some sort of interface using cell phones interacting with the automobil need to be developed, and it will be fought against vehemently, just like the seat belt.

It should be a sentencing kicker when determined to be the reason for accidents and/or violations on the road.

Penalties alone may not be effective, and I think there should be more educational pieces shared with the public on why it's dangerous to be a distracted driver.

The government should educate their citizens to become better drivers and be more alert. You can create a virtual experience in which the driver is dristracted for a brief moment and has an accident. That would make someone think twice about it.

The U.S. government should give distracted driving penalties depends on severity of distracted driving.

Not for all distracted driving, if it’s a mother tending to a crying baby that’s different then texting in a phone.

It depends on the severity of the distracted driver and how old they are/when they got their license

Yes, but non-monetary penalties such as license suspensions and requiring offenders to repeat a driving exam.

depends on the situation, if i were texting and driving and got pulled over for it i would like decreased penalties, but if it were to cause an accident i would increase penalty

Yes, for the sake of law and order, but still allow everyone to the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th amendments for the sake of the constitution, freedom, federalism, weak government, and checks and balances.

Yes, for the sake of law and order, but still allow them access to the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th amendments for the sake of the constitution, freedom, federalism, weak government, and checks and balances.

I agree with this, but it would cause lots of unrest within the people as lots of law enforcement would abuse this and accuse use many people of distracted driving due to some sort of discrimination

Yes, because people doing dumb mistakes by not paying attention to the road and stuff is causing a lot of accidents and people are dying and getting hurt by this but if they do the right amount of work I think they should be okay.

Yes. For the sake of Law and Order and road safety. At the same time, for the sake of the constitution, freedom, checks and balances, federalism, and weak government, still grant rights to fair trials and attorneys.

Yes, because looking away for a second is extremely dangerous, around 1.6 million crashes were because of distracted driving such as people being on their phones.

Yes, many experts and organizations advocate for increasing penalties for distracted driving, citing the significant number of deaths and injuries caused by distracted driving annually. Stricter enforcement and penalties can deter risky behaviors and create safer roads for everyone.
Here's a more detailed look at the issue:
Why Increase Penalties?
High Number of Deaths and Injuries:
Distracted driving is a major cause of traffic accidents, resulting in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year.
Deterrent Effect:
Stronger penalties, including increased fines,…  Read more license suspensions, and even jail time in severe cases, can deter drivers from engaging in distracted driving behaviors.
Public Safety:
Increased penalties can help create a safer driving environment for everyone, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Data Shows Enforcement Works:
The Department of Transportation has shown that strong laws, combined with highly-visible police enforcement, can significantly reduce dangerous texting and cell phone use behind the wheel.
Public Opinion:
Public opinion polls show support for addressing the issue of distracted driving with state laws.
What are some examples of increased penalties?
Higher Fines:
Many states have increased fines for distracted driving violations, especially those involving texting or using handheld devices.
License Suspensions:
Repeated offenses can lead to license suspensions or revocations.
Points on Driving Record:
Distracted driving violations can result in points being added to a driver's record, which can lead to higher insurance premiums or license suspension.
Mandatory Courses:
Drivers convicted of distracted driving offenses may be required to attend safety courses.
Vehicle Seizure:
In some cases, vehicles involved in accidents caused by distracted driving may be seized.
Examples of States with Stricter Laws:
California: California Office of Traffic Safety has a hands-free cell phone law and has increased penalties for viol

Particularly when it affects other drivers/poses a direct threat. Like when people have been caught before, and get caught numerous times driving distracted

a simple warning would do just fine but after your 2 you should be fined because you are endangering others

Encourage technology that either reduces distracted driving or creates a more autonomous experience.

The government should work to eliminate distracted driving entirely, rather than merely reacting to its occurrence.

There should be penalties if distracted driving is a result of intentionally doing something other than focusing on the road.

The government should support programs that drastically reduce driving, and to drastically reduce any automobile-centric developments overall

Depends, if they're on their phone and crash that's a lotta money, but if they're distracted with food but still somewhat safe it's whatever.

Yes but the guilty person should be interviewed on why they were distracted. However, no matter how valid the situation is, there will still be consequences depending on the severity level.

I believe if you are more distracted and have caused more damage, that you must have more years in jail.

This question is far too vague. Increased to what? What are they now? If those questions can't be answered with enough specificity (maybe because the answers vary widely depending on jurisdiction,) it's probably beyond the scope of this website, given that most people use it to determine for whom to vote in the federal presidential election. This problem affects lots of questions on the quiz of course, so get it together nerds. Or... are you aware of this and doing it on purpose... no impossible.

No, but increase the means of enforcing current penalties and remove police involvement in traffic enforcement.

Yes, but if a teenager the has of record of drinking while driving, and if any police, firefighter, military, person who breaks the law.

We need a firm decision on what "distracted driving" really is; for example, police officers have a laptop they use next to them in the patrol vehicles as they drive. Is that not "distracted driving"? and if not, why are they exempt?

Yes, as accidents and fatalities climb due to distracted driving the penalties should start matching dui penalties in the states.

Not the federal government. The state government should deal with this issue according to their need

there is really no reason you can have for distracted driving you were distracted and you were driving so you should be charged the same as everyone else

This is a hard to deal with question, jail ruins lives. A close family friend went to jail for ten years due to drunk driving, he got into a car accident and killed someone. He was left traumized, survivors guilt, and struggling with lots of money. You shouldn't raise the time higher unless it is in a school zone or somewhere in a child/crowded spaces.

We should strive for autonomous vehicles. The government should invest in the development of this technology instead of trying to figure out how to make people less distracted.

Yes. Currently, drivers looking at their cellphones are far more frequent and dangerous than drivers under the influence of alcohol.

No, but if the person is not looking at the road and is more distracted by their phone or anything this could be a risk.

i think it depends on what's distracting you. If it's a phone, it should be a less severe penalty. If it's something like drunk driving, then that should be a little more punishable.

depends if its important or not if the distraction is not important then there should be penalties or increased penalties but if it is important like your wife is in labor or sum then u should not increase or maybe even give a penalty

some people just cant drive in general I think we should mandate the drivers test a little more challenging just for the people that can barely drive off the streets

Yes, but require reinvestment of those penalties in public transportation, including public autonomous transportation systems

If it is proven that distracted driving was the cause of dangerous behavior or an accident, then yes.

Unless there are studies that have (or plan to) test the effectiveness of this enforcement, no. Institutions like colleges and other youth-populated districts should implement their own regulations.

Penalties for distracted driving should include a loss of one's driver's license or a probation from driving for a set amount of time scaling with the severity of the case.