Is this an effective method to broaden awareness of a dangerous issue, or is it a voyeuristic sort of public shaming?  Imagine going out on the town, and seeing… yourself, caught in the act, texting while driving.  That’s what’s happening in the San Francisco Bay Area, where a graphic designer has received a lot of media attention for purchasing space on Billboards to share pictures, snapped in public, of people texting while driving.

At first you may laugh, as that would be quite embarrassing to the person that was caught… but what if it were you?  Social pressure appears to be the goal of the project.  Of course, the billboards don’t name names, but there’s a possibility that your friends, coworkers, or even boss will recognize you, caught in the act.

Is it possible that the next step will be digital billboards with cameras looking into traffic.  Perhaps if the camera spots you texting, your image will appear, in real time, on the billboard?  You, and everyone in traffic around you, would catch you in the act.  And when do we determine if it’s gone too far?  There are cameras at traffic lights to take a picture if you run a red light, and then you get a ticket in the mail.  Will these billboard cameras capture the image of you texting in your driver’s seat, and send you a ticket in this case as well?

In Virginia, it is against the law to text and drive, punishable by a fine of $125 for first-time offenders, and up to $250 for repeat offenders.  The law states and defines this act as:
“46.2-1078.1.  Use of handheld personal communications devicesin certain motor vehicles; penalty.
A.  It is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:
1 – Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
2 – Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored within the device nor to any caller identification information.

Our advice – Make a habit of not texting and driving.  You, and all of those around you, are much safer this way.  And there is no chance of being pulled over and fined for texting and driving.

Sources:
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1091157_public-shaming-with-billboards-any-less-likely-to-text-and-drive#src=10065
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1078.1

At Car Direct, our goal is to help you in finding the right vehicle for you at a rate that you can afford.  Check out our inventory page to see what we currently have in stock.  Don’t see what you’re looking for?  Give us a call – that vehicle may be on its way in.  If not, we’ll find it for you!  And remember – Don’t text and drive, be safe!!