Driving Incentive Initiative

I’d
like to focus on a particular demographic in my essay which seems to
be placed in the center of bad driving stereotypes: the youth. Our
society is focused so mightily at telling us to stop doing this and
stop doing that…and how many of us are actually listening to this
message?  Everyone knows that young adults think they know
everything, so telling us what to do isn’t always effective. But
why do we not take such a dangerous task as driving seriously?

 The
root of the issue is that young adults are complacent behind the
wheel; we think we can multitask –  whether it be eating,
drinking, calling, or texting – but humans were not meant to do so.
Our minds can only truly focus on one thing at a time. Rather than
utilizing traditional methods to combat the undefeatable (young
adults’ complacency), alternative solutions should be considered.
Obviously the illegalization of texting and driving hasn’t
persuaded young adults to stop, and the increase in car accidents due
to texting and driving hasn’t persuaded them either; so what can be
done to provoke a response from this demographic?

I
believe a no phone incentive
should be implemented. The incentive could be a phone application –
“Deals on Wheels” – that rewards users with points for driving
with their phone locked. The app could partner with lucrative
institutions such as walmart, amazon, and several chain restaurants
so that the points could be put towards store credit or discounts.
This way, young adults will have a desire to put their phones away
willingly while driving and feel rewarded at the same time. As for
the contributing businesses, they would gain positive press through
their contributions to fight texting and driving as well as free
advertising through the Deals on Wheels app and more customers. In
the end, the public is safer, young adults earn money, and businesses
expand their reach; win-win-win.