Texting while driving is already illegal. California was one of the first states to ban it, something that has now been done in almost every state across the country. Everyone knows that texting and driving is very distracting and that it causes accidents, so no one should be doing it. They also know that they’re breaking the law when they do, so there’s extra motivation to keep their phones in their pockets.
However, people still text and drive every day. Many of them just try to avoid getting caught. But these drivers are still highly distracted and they do cause accidents. So why don’t they just stop using their phone in the car?
Phones are inherently addictive
Part of the problem is that phones can cause the release of dopamine in the brain. In this way, apps are designed to be addictive. Your body gets used to that dopamine release and you will reach for your phone without even thinking about it.
This addiction also means that people often respond to their phones very quickly. Thirty years ago, if someone called your house and you weren’t home, you may not have found out about it for hours – when someone gave you the message or you checked the machine. But today, many people feel like they have to pick up their phone the second it rings, whether they are in the car, at work, at home or anywhere else. This instinctive reaction can also lead to distraction, even from drivers who initially were not using their phones in the car.
Breaking an addiction like this is difficult, especially for an entire society. Texting and driving will continue, and those who are injured need to know how to seek compensation.
