( February 9, 2011 ) — I am no stranger to the senseless mistakes and idiotic choices made by today’s teenagers, being one myself. We fall in “love” much too easily for our own good, procrastinate like there is a tomorrow, and probably don’t listen to our parents as much as we should. But when it gets to the point where we’re putting people’s lives in danger, something must be done to stop it. Countless times have I heard teenagers blatantly speak of texting or talking on their phones while driving; they don’t seem to be too concerned about or even fully aware of the consequences. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the penalty for text messaging while driving in California is $20 for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenses. One of the reasons why I still see people holding their phones on the freeway might be that the offense doesn’t make much of a dent on your driving record; no violation points are added to your license when you are convicted of illegally texting while driving. What makes it easier for drivers under the age of 18 to get away with distracted driving is that using a hands-free device while behind the wheel is only considered a secondary enforcement offense. You can’t get pulled over and cited by a police officer just for talking on your phone. You must be doing something else illegal as well. I can’t help but wonder why something more serious isn’t being done to stop careless drivers. Do cell phone companies just want their customers texting as often as possible, racking up their fees and bills? According to cellphonesafety.org , cell phone industry lobbyists are pushing for “consumer education versus wide-scale cell phone bans.” They agree with the fact that cell phones must be used safely while driving, but are against total cell phone bans. What happens to irresponsible individuals who don’t bother to educate themselves, or those who are simply too stubborn? I thought that ensuring the safety of our citizens would be the government’s main priority, not shaping laws to accommodate their interests. Should we focus on making people happy, or keeping them alive and out of danger? As for the drivers themselves, why should the government have to enforce a law to convince them to drive safely? They themselves should realize what danger they’re putting themselves and others in. Perhaps it’s too much for one to expect drivers to go through the “hassle” of waiting a few minutes or pulling over before reading a text message or making a call. Who cares about saving a life?