Cell Phone Companies Driving to Improve their Image

Cell phone companies will be receiving a huge blow to their industry because of laws that will limit the public to not use cell phones while driving. Not only will the cell phone industry lose money from the lack of call time and texting, they will gain a negative image. With cars becoming even more prevalent along with cell phones, cell phone companies will have to learn to deal with the face of a new age of disaster.

A person may not use an electronic messaging device while operating a motor vehicle while on the road. Illinois is not the only state to impose law against texting and driving; many states across the nation are addressing this issue. With the prohibition of cell phones while driving, cell phone companies will lose the obvious, revenue. Additionally, cell phone companies will lose money based on society's new outlook on cell phones. The issue of texting and driving has taken the national podium. With the major media networks publishing and broadcasting stories about the dangers of texting and driving , how will the cell phone industry maintain a positive image when so much negativity surrounds this issue? This new epidemic is being compared to the drunk driving problem which is considered one of the main issues that the police must enforce. Based on statistics, driving while intoxicated creates a slower reaction time than someone who is texting and driving. With more notoriety being placed upon this issue of texting and driving, people will look negatively on the phone industry.

AT&T has responded with its own public service ads on their website. On the website, it advises people to not engage in texting while driving and wait until a later time to send the message. I believe that cell phone companies can make a negative situation seem to have a positive outcome like the current AT&T website has done. There is no denying that cell phone companies are viewed as the culprit of the problems with texting and driving. However, the phone companies can take the same approach that the alcohol companies take. How many commercials have you seen where at the end of the commercial a voice arises and says, "Drink responsibility"? Alcohol commercials air that same line constantly because alcohol companies know alcohol will lead to accidents. Cell phone companies could bandwagon onto this same aspect and maintain a national campaign repeating a line saying, "Don't text and drive". A simple recognition by the companies would acknowledge their opinion of the issue and put the American public at ease.