Texting while driving – can you spell disaster?
Photo by irina slutsky
I recently returned from a trip to visit friends in Los Angeles. They had recently relocated from New York and, like most New Yorkers, hadn’t had any use for a car until their move. Now they spend what seems like most of their lives in their car. It was surprising to see how quickly they fell back into that “car culture” state-of-mind. Their vehicle not only gets them from here to there, but is also a proxy backpack, locker, kitchen table, entertainment outlet, and communication station.
It had been a while since I have spent that much time in a car. The most notable difference since I last owned a vehicle is the prevalence of cell phones. I never owned a car and a cell phone at the same time, so rules about talking or texting while driving were nonexistent. The last time I drove regularly, it seemed enough of a distraction to be flipping over a cassette tape. I can’t begin to imagine fielding phone calls and texts while trying to merge onto a busy Southern California freeway (in spite of the fact that hand-held devices and texting are now an infraction in the Golden State). Because drivers have the ability to talk on the phone, check email, surf the Web, and text back and forth (all while cruising down the highway,) I have to admit that riding in a car seems scarier than ever before.
There is a new public service announcement (PSA) in England that’s generating a lot of buzz right now, which graphically demonstrates (too graphically, some might say) just how dangerous using a phone while driving can be. (Here’s a link to it, but be warned: It’s not for the squeamish.) It depicts a young driver and her friends getting into a terrible car accident while texting, and the video leaves nothing to the imagination. The ad’s detractors feel that it’s just too violent and disturbing to be shown on television, while supporters argue that these frightening images are just what the public needs to really grasp the dangers of indulging in these distracting behaviors while on the road.
Using cell phones while driving presents a very clear and obvious danger — just look at the terrible mass-transit accidents that occurred recently in California and Massachusetts, which were caused by drivers who were reportedly texting on their phones. And though our intentions to set our phones aside while driving might be honorable and good, it’s just too easy to get sucked into our communication devices. That little ringtone goes off and we think, “What if it’s an emergency?” And so we peek, only to be drawn in to whatever momentary drama is calling our attention away.
Many states have enacted various laws banning texting while driving, and requiring cell phone users to use hands-free headsets while driving, but are they enough? Do we need to outlaw using phones in cars altogether? Our hands may be free, but our minds are still occupied with the person or information on the other end. Of course, when radios were first put into cars, there were fears that they would be too distracting for drivers, but can you imagine a car without one these days? Perhaps we will adjust to managing these new distractions on the road.
How do you drivers out there manage the temptation to use your phones while driving? And what do you think of this controversial PSA? Do you think it goes too far in depicting the dangers of texting while driving, or do you think this is exactly what people need to see to change their behavior?
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Stupid people deserve to be removed from the gene pool…but sadly, they end up taking the innocent out instead.
People are always going to do stupid thing while they drive. They will apply makeup. Shave. Change clothes. Read the newspaper. And so on and so on. And now, we have cell phones with text messaging to add to the list.
When I started driving, cell phones were $1000’s, huge monsters, and were only for the wealthy. we never had to worry if we were going to miss that important call, or what if an emergency happened. We survived. Kids today will also survive if they just leave the phone alone.
This is why you look up when you text and drive. Only people who are stupid and don’t look up and continually see what is going on while you text.
I bet the majority of people who can text without looking are young. I know I can. The young, including myself, text so much i know where my keys are.
Sometimes i misspell a word and i’ll look down. Then look up again.
It is no different than a mom turning around while driving to fix something on her child in the back seat or looking at someone in the passenger seat while you talk to them.
You take your eyes off the road for many things while you drive. Just don’t do it for long otherwise you will end up crashing.
JUST DON’T BE A PANZI
When someone gets distracted for too long and doesn’t look at the road then you have a problem.
There are many things that happen. Sneezing, a mother checking on her children in the back, talking a friend next to you.
You just have to remember to look up frequently. Instead of the BBC making me feel like I’m about to ruin 10 peoples lives who all have infants, why don’t they teach drivers of ALL AGES (yes all ages text!!) to look up every other instant when you text????
I absolutely support this new video as well as laws being enforced in EVERY state! The creator of the film was interviewed the other night, and I completely agree with what he said: “If you’re old enough to be driving, then you’re old enough to see the reality of what can happen behind the wheel.” Kids NEED to know what the consequences could be, and not dare jeopardize MY family’s safety on the road. It’s kind of like in high school when they showed all the nasty pictures of what STD’s look like, and had the whole auditorium collectively letting out “EWWW!!!”’s as each new slide went up. Hopefully that detered kids from sleeping around; and hopefully this driving film will deter kids from using their cell phones behind the wheel.
Why should the PSA be limited to texting? What about people that eat, drink, smoke, change clothes, shave, or many of the other thousands of distracting activities that can contribute to a car wreck? The ad does a great job with SHOCK value, but I think the focus should be inattention in general, not just texting.
Lol. I know this topic isnt funny but yes D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R…
Recomend watching this video and you will never text while driving again. It starts after the commercial.
http://video.novinky.cz/video/doporucujeme/?videoId=7084 for some reason the link is not showing up
I saw it and think though it is graphic, it is probably exactly what is needed to convince people about the dangers of texting while driving. I was almost hit head on by a young girl who was texting while on an uphill curve and literally went off of the road to avoid her. I hope that scare was enough to stop her from doing it again, but think the PSA definitely would.
Put the Cell phone in the trunk and you won’t hear the ring. Put it in the glove box and lock the glove box(if you have a car that you can, which is probably rare now) and you won’t reach for it. You aren’t getting a call that important. You can check the messages when you get where you are going, or if you are going on a long trip stop at the rest stops and check your phone there.
You just got to know how to do it. If youre a dumbass that stops looking completely at the road or doesnt wait till ur at a red light, then chances are that yea something might happen.
All young people should view this from their own schools.
I have side with those who agree that people shouldn’t be texting while driving. You’re already arriving at your destination so much more faster by using an automobile and you still don’t have enough time to communicate? If you’re still compelled to text while driving, you need to re-evaulate your life and make more time for yourself.
I ride a bicycle to get around the city. When I see people using their cell phones while driving it scares the poo poo out of me. People just feel invincible in their autos. Try texting while riding a bicycle for some perspective.
I saw the video, if I didn’t know it was fake, I would have believed it was real…Jeez it was graphic. I am a 20 something and I don’t text and drive, it’s pointless…just call them if it’s that important. If some dumb teen hits me b/c they are texting (even if looking up periodically) I feel sorry for him or her…I drive a hemi. Your souped up Honda Accord would just be a speed bump under my tire.
So from video, the driver is wounded, her friend dies from second car side swiping, seat-belts but no airbags, the baby dies and parents die or unconscious in the other car, and the head on car injuries unknown with airbag, why did not the other car swerve or veer away, honk, the second you see someone else over the line, slowdown, honk, flash high-beams, anything to wake them or get their attention,
This is where the person on the other end of the line, checks if user is driving, then tells them to hang up and drive, and then hang up, and tell them later to never call while they are in control of vehicle,
Point made, do not text, let alone use phone devices, while driving, highway or local streets, don even smoke, or drink, or listen to loud volumed noises, if urgent please pull over,
Please, if I’m on the other end of phone message, I don’t want to be part of the cause of your harm,
Lighter side of resolve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKYko-KJi2Y
I text while I drive, however I found that I tend to veer out of the lane so I’ve taken to only texting at lights or if the conversation is long and/or heated I pull onto a side street. Generally speaking, though, whenever I’m texting I’m getting directions or giving them. I probably wouldn’t have bothered worrying about my behavior except for the fact that I’ve nearly been hit twice by stupid people texting (not to mention all of the idiots that have long conversations on their phone).
That being said, I don’t think the PSA is graphic enough. The anti-drug and drinking PSAs have never motivated anyone to think about their behavior. When I was a senior in high school we were required to go to an assembly to been shown the results of drinking and driving and doing drugs and driving and the photos were incredibly gross. The following year, after prom, a car load of kids were killed for being drunk and on the road.
D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R
I live in Texas and we absolutely need to ban cell phone use of any type in cars. I’m talking DWI-type offense punishments…a cell phone using driver is statistically as dangerous as a drunk driver!
I ride a motorcycle and literally once every week (if not more often) a person on a cell phone beside me will switch into my lane, often even after I’ve honked several times! It’s a good thing I check beside me once every couple of seconds when a car with a cell phone is beside me…otherwise I could very easily be crushed and DEAD.
Even in my car I’ve had near-accidents of the same sort once every few months (cell phone user switching lanes from right beside me). The real problem is it’s VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE to quickly check your blind spot or even get a clear view beside you when using a cell phone.
It’s tempting,but don’t do it!Texting while driving is totally dangerous!
A law goes into effect on Friday in Missouri that bans texting and driving for anyone 21 and under. I am 19 and I just got my license last year. I know that I am not a good driver, so if I try and add a cell phone into the equation things will go downhill. Even if I was a good driver, I do not think that it is safe to be texting a driving.
People need to have common sense, but that usually does not come until something bad happens, like that video. I can not say that I never text and drive, only if it’s a real emergency and I wait until I’m at a stop light/sign or I have the person I’m in the car with, type the message for me.
When you kill somebody with your car while “texting”, really a person must be complete moron to write a dumb text in his/her cell phone, or land your head on some tree in a car crash, then you will learn not to text anything while driving. Keep your eyes on the road. If have to text, stop in a parking lot of some mall or fast food restaurant and do it there safely.
When I get into the car to head to school or work, I usually place my phone in my purse and turn it to vibrate or silence it- that way I don’t hear it and then I forget about it. The world stereotypes teenagers as text-addicts and while we may be that, some of us really DON’T like to text. I find it useful if you’re telling someone an answer to a question or what time you’ll meet them somewhere, but other than that, there is no purpose to have a full conversation over letters.
I’m glad the PSA came out with that video- maybe it will teach some of the youth to put their phones away while driving. You may think that Katie’s new boyfriend just cheated on her is important, but it’s definitely NOT worth your life or anybody else’s for that matter.
the same people who think this was real, a girl just happened to have 6 cameras mounted on her car and they just happened to switch to slow motion during a wreck are also the same people who think this is too graphic. rap videos are more graphic. these same people are the same ones texting while driving. until there is a ban on stupidity, we will have car crashes.
Talking on the phone while driving itself is considered very dangerous bcause you will driving the car with one hand only with focus on the road though. Texting while driving means No focus on the road and both the hands occupited typing on the key pad. So some body tell who is driving the car? GOD or Devil? I can’t imagine such a situation in the first place. Texting while driving should be considered above DUI and person found should be taken into custody and driving license is suspended for atleast 10 years.
I can spell D…I….S….A……S…T….E….R!
nobody gives a crap about the laws especillay this one lol. the rules and laws are a thing of the past.
I couldn’t believe I read some of those comments in Utube where they siad it was funny or had no emotion to that.
Those people deserve to be hit in the next texting while driving accident and watch their kids die or break their back or suffer – then see how funny it is when it is you who gets hit by those texters!
People like them would be that girl driving and texting and if they lived, they would be grateful they did and not care the killed people, including parents of kids and babies!
Sorry -don’t mean to take it out on their kids – never want to see little children hurt. Just meant to express my rage on their lack of compassion – people with no compassion should all get shot. We would have a better world with out those LOSERS! They are so un cool and I feel sorry for them – they must be so sad and lost inside their heads!
Also, shouldn’t it be – can you TEXT disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ttNgZDZruI SEE THIS WEBPAGE IF YOU WANNA SEE HOW BAD TEXTING WHILE DRIVING IS. IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACHE THEN I RECOMEND YOU ASK SOMEONE IF ITS SUITABLE FOR YOU FIRST
I’m fifteen and I just cannot see why my generation is so obsessed with cell phones in the first place. No message that they get is that important. It’s all their friends wanting to chat, their boyfriends calling, or their parents checking up. And while the latter is kind of important, you can wait! Honestly, just put your phone in the backseat and if you absolutely HAVE to take a call or text, then pull off the road if it’s okay. If not, then just leave it alone!
Stupidity kills, not texting.
What she was doing was equivalent to riding on bicycle while holding a heavy cardboard box on a fifty story on a thin 50ft rope.
I was doing this for a long time, but one day my car got out of the road and never did I text while driving. Learned my lesson
My adult daughter texts while she drives, and though I have gotten on her case about it, according to her sister, she still does it. I get the “But Mom, I’m very careful when I text and drive–you worry too much!” speech (complete with eye roll) that makes me want to put my foot you-know-where!!
The point is, young people tend to think that it won’t happen to them, that THEY know what their doing, and they think they are in control. Of course, not only young people are doing it, either.
The PSA and changes in the law are a start, but I believe it might be more effective (if the technology exists), to create a port in the dash of the car for your cell phone that can translate text into spoken words on a speaker, then the driver could speak and the port could translate that and send it in text to the other person.
I know it may sound like a stupid idea to some people, but it sure would be safer since you know very few people will stop texting while driving. As a mother and grandmother, I live in fear when my daughter is out and about–for every ambulance siren I hear may be coming for her.
they made a law in NY that you will get a ticket if you are caught holding any electronic device whatsoever, doesnt matter if you were using it or not.
Texting and driving really can be dangerous! I know, I totalled my car because of it. I thought nothing bad would happen ever, I had done it hundreds of times before, but just one day, I couldn’t get a word spelled right on T9 and ran right off the road, and I wasn’t looking down for more than 1 1/2 seconds before I was off the right side of the road, overcorrected over to the left side of the road, crashing into a fence between 2 HUGE trees that would have done some serious damage, if not fatal; all of which while panicking and flooring the gas instead of the brake. DON’T RISK IT. I was a pro and texting and driving but now I don’t do it.
Do you know what’s worse then texting when driving? It would be emailing when driving. All sales reps in the company I work for have blackberry’s, but we have a no talking/emailing/texting rule while driving. Do you think that rule stops anyone from checking their email while on the road? I am suprised no one I work with has had an accident that was their own fault since we got blackberry’s.
Please people, no text or email is that important that it can’t wait until you pull over or reach your destination.
If people drive using a mobile phone, without making an effort to park somewhere to call in an emergency, or if safe to use a hands free kit; then I feel like with many other driving offences, they should be forced to have thier car removed and be banned from driving.
Nothing else will get the message across
I knew a girl who totaled her car back in March 2009 while she was texting. She never saw the car move in front of her at a lower speed so she had no time to react. She hit the guardrail and spun out into a ditch. She was fine though, but still it’s an easy way to lose limbs and your life. I’ll admit I’ve done it, but I don’t any longer. It’s just not worth it.
A friend of mine just survived a horrific car accident where she was on her cell phone as she hit a truck and flipped into the woods. She somehow only suffered a concussion and numerous stitches. She’s a LUCKY one. Until it happens to someone you care about, you don’t realize it. I’m trying to advise everyone. Be safe.
I used to text while driving but now I have quit. In fact i texted for several minutes going 75 mph, and i was still safe. You don’t have to look at the cell phone while texting. Just text like you type on keyboard. Seeing keyboard isn’t necessary while typing. Same thing goes with cell. But now i have totally quit and i would discourage others from texting while driving.
yes i can:
D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R
Next time anyone wants to text or speak into a cell phone (hands free or not) think …..
I believe it was a Professor Brown who did some very interesting studies at Cambridge University, and came up with figures:
When average driver sees an emergency happening front of them, it takes 1.5 seconds to hit the brake
When the average driver, using a cell phone, sees an emergency happening in front of them, it takes 2.7 seconds to hit brake.
These are scientific studies – I believe there have been similar ones the the States – but of course cell phone companies don’t want them publicised.
To people who say there need to be PSA’s about other driving distractions, there are. They say something like “don’t let food, friends, or a phone call distract you from diving.” The difference is that in THAT PSA the kids just miss being involved in an accident. That PSA didn’t work, and so now we have this one.
Some people are capable of driving and texting. Some people are barely capable of driving. If you text enough you have memorized where the letters are and barely need to look at the screen to text. It’s really not that difficult, it’s no different than anything else people do in their cars. Just some people are capable and some aren’t.
In my area, two people died in a week because they simply could not PUT down their phones. They died MID-text. One was so intent on her message that she drove in front of a tractor trailer at 3 AM—when traffic was dead.
There is no “smart” way to text.
People who text kill, every bit as much as drunk drivers.
As a person who was twice badly injured in accidents caused by drivers who were not paying attention, I can only plead with people to put down their damned phones. There is no message you can send more important than someone elses life…or even your own.
Anyone with a brain will agree that texting while driving is dangerous. For all you ‘young’ people out there, the ones who can text and drive and only look down for a second, how long do you think it takes to get into an accident. Everyone I know who’s ever been in an accident said it happened suddenly. In the blink of an eye. Just like every other person in the world, up until you reach a certain age or experience certain things they think they are immortal and nothing can ever happen to them. This just goes to show how broken our society is: “Well maybe it is reckless, and dangerous, and against the law but that’s okay, nothing bad will happen if I just send a quick msg to my bff…”
When I took Driver’s Ed, my instructor said “Whenever you get behind the wheel of a car, the road, what is in front of you, what is to the sides of you and what is behind you should be the ONLY thing on your mind. You will be operating 2 tons of metal at high speeds. That REQUIRES constant and diligent attention. That is NOT an option.” Some friends of mine were driving together. They approached a stop sign and a small paperback started to slide off the dashboard. The driver went to grab it, managed to wrap his car around the stop sign and his friend ended up with his jaw wired shut for 6 weeks. There are times the multi-tasking is NOT a good idea; driving a car is top on the list.
Nothing will change until the texting is no longer available. i use an ear piece to talk. Whats wrong with that.
The video, albeit sad, makes a lot of assumptions. Not only did the three girls in the car not realize they were drifting in to another lane, but the oncoming car didn’t see this either. On top of that, what about that third car…did they not observe what was occuring and slow down a bit?
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. Texting, or doing anything distracting, is dangerous while driving. But if you are THAT unbelievably stupid that you don’t look up and observe your surroundings every now and again, you shouldn’t be driving in the first place. In my opinion, the worst thing that should happen is a fender bender, if for some reason the car in front of you slams on its brakes.
What we should really be worried about is how many stupid people there truely are in the world. Someone said, “Stupidity kills, not texting.” EXACTLY! I was walking across the street in the crosswalk when I got hit by a drunk driver speeding through a red light at 35 mph. Fact: he had a valid driver’s license after SEVEN previous DWIs. Are people in the world that stupid to give someone who has made that many mistakes that many chances?
I don’t know where the world went wrong and people started losing simple logic, but everyday I notice more and more people who are just completely ignorant to the world around them. Stupid people are taking over the world, and when they go down, they’re taking the smart people down with them…
My wife works as an ER nurse in MIchigan. Several days ago, there an incident where a driver (teen) was texting while driving on the interstate. He crossed the median and merged into oncoming traffic resulting in a semi jack-knifing and wrecking into the vechile driven by the texting teen. The teens 3 (three) passengers were killed. At some point, people have to, NEED to realize that no message is that important. It only takes a second to make an intelligent decision but the consequences are eternal for stupid thoughtless ones.
People who think they can text while driving without creating a huge danger to others are deluding themselves.
If you just look down, refocus, fix a spelling error, and look back up, that’s 2 seconds. That’s almost 200 feet at highway speeds. Since the normal following distance on highways is about 1-2 seconds, that’s a full speed collision if the person in front of you brakes at the same time.
I agree that this is similar to the danger of turning around looking at the kids. But it’s not the same as eating or drinking in a car. It isn’t necessary to focus the same way that you do to fix a text message, and it takes much less than a second’s attention to pick up a soda from the cupholder. Anyone who gets in an accident while texting should be criminally liable.
The problem is not texting while driving, the problem is that our society became completely retarded. I bet 99.99% of accidents caused by text messaging consisted of the most idiotic conversations, ex: “LOL no way man, that is totally awsome bro”. It seems to me that our society has been so manipulated, scared, and separated from one another, that we feel the need to be in contact with people at all times. It seems like people are not able to be alone anymore, we need to be entertained 24/7. This really makes me want to puke, but all this goes down to our goverment, our schools, our neighbourhoods, our employment, it seems like any where i look people are completely ignorant, and are unable to carry out a normal conversation. And I hate how it became normal in our society to be a complete idiot, and it is even embrassed! Havent you noticed that the idiot who is the most annoying ass kisser that seen all the idiotic movies is most likely to get promoted then the person who is actually doing all the work… I know many of you may not agree with me, but as far as I am concerned thowse are probobly the ones that are in the herd of sheep, that our lovely goverment has created, but just to say something back on text messaging since it was the original topic. I think texting is not what causes the accidents, its people that are just too stupid to priorities their actions, I can see a 16 year old teenager be more preocupied with telling his friends about that awsome movie he seen last night, or making up some lie to make him self seem cooler in front of his friends, then paying attention to the road, therefor we end up with 1 less kid who could of became a doctor or something and saved a 1000 kids, but instead he chose to be a cool guy and now he is dead.
I can’t believe the number of people who are saying that texting is OK as long as you keep looking up. DRIVING IS A FULL-TIME TASK. Momentary distractions are unavoidable, but texting is simply idiotic. Ask any cop or ambulance driver.
I would rather be on the road with someone who has had a couple of drinks that with a kid texting on a cell phone.
Missouri just past a law that takes effect today. Anyone under the age of 21 caught texting while driving gets a $200 ticket. I think this is a stupid law, why does it only punish those under 21. Shouldn’t it be all ages.
It’s for people like Dakota that they MAKE these types of ads. She(?) just doesn’t get it.
“Just remember to look up”. No, on a high speed road, it take a split second to wander into another lane. In the time between glancing down and back up, it can be over.
At 60 miles an hour (100 km for those of us not in the US), you are travelling 1 mile per minute, or 88 ft per second. It take several seconds to glance at your phone, read what it says, and return you attention to the road, during which time you have potentially travelled several HUNDRED feet.
Yes, there are lots of other thing that happen in cars which present a distraction. That does NOT mean that it’s safe, sensible, or even acceptable to add more.
Texting while driving should be an immediate license suspension, and if an accident is caused, the person should be prosecuted for reckless endangerment. If a death occurs, it should be vehicular manslaughter.
Texting while driving is also illegal in CA.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/
My son had an accident while texting. He hit another truck in the rear. He was driving my truck. Could have been a whole lot worse. The link below deals with the seriousness of driver inattentiveness due to cell phone use.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1973384/seven_instances_when_multitasking_is.html?cat=7
I saw that PSA, and while I was surprised at how graphic it was, it was only a little worse than one I was shown in drivers ed. (Though the accident in that clip didn’t have to do about texting while driving.)
It almost brought tears to my eyes, but nonetheless, I think it was a smart move on the U.K’s behalf. Wouldn’t you rather watch a staged accident that teaches you a lesson rather than participate in a real one?
I love the idiots who point to other things that are distractions. Don’t take ownership of your own stupidity. Point out someone else’s. The FACT of the matter is that CELL PHONES are the largest cause of accidents on America’s roads today. They cause more accidents than drunk driving, speeding and people putting on their makeup. The hands free devices don’t remedy the problem. The simple way to solve the problem would be to outlaw all kinds of distractive driving practices and make the penalties the same as those for drunk driving. The second step would be to make the police actually enforce the law. The second part will be the tough part because most of the police I see on the roads are too busy to give out tickets because they themselves are on the CELL PHONE! In most cases there is no reason for the police to be on the cell phone. They have radios in there cars for police business. Personally, I think the penalties should be quite severe for any cell phone use in a motor vehicle. You shouldn’t even be allowed to have it turned on while it’s in the car.
My dad keeps telling me how dangerous it is to drive and text, or drive and eat, or drive and apply makeup, etc. I won’t be getting a driver’s license for at couple more years, so I learn early. I partially saw the PSA–breifly, but then I did get grossed out, and worse, I saw it at night, so it left me freaked out over night. But then again, that’s why the header when I watched it was “Texting While Driving-the ad 2 die 4″. I think they should put this in America! Everywhere! Because it will make people think twice.
Get real, people!
*edit* forgot.
There’s a video on Youtube of a girl who recently got her license and averages 5000 text messages a month! She was on Dr. Phil with her mom and she texted 24/7, even in the car driving. Her Mother was okay with it and she said she was never worried about car accidents and such because she was such a good texter that she never looked down.
Stupid girl. **
People are absolutely deluded if they believe texting while driving is MORE dangerous than drunk driving. PLEASE! Look, the big people are talking; anyone with an IQ under 120, please leave. Texting can equate to a few seconds (spaced apart) of incoherent driving, while drunk driving can equate to the ENTIRE distance of incoherent driving.
Also, all these comments make it seem like the only way to text is to hold your phone in your lap so you have to take your eyes off the road to text. Again, really? Really people? No one has thought about putting the phone a little off center of the wheel so you can see both clearly with peripheral vision?
This brings me back to my point: texting doesn’t kill, stupid people kill. If you’re THAT stupid that you think the only way to text is to pull both hands off the wheel and not look up at the road, you shouldn’t have been given a license in the first place.
I can agree that texting does that some of your attention away from the road, that’s just a fact. You’re concentrating on what to write and which buttons to push, so even the best texters who don’t have to look are distracted.
Nonetheless, the main point is that the world around us is changing. Colleges are accepting poorer applications; too many people are getting “free passes” on things once thought of as absurd. When did stupidity become reality?
i think that they should show this on T.V, because its the truth. its the only way to stop people from texting and driving. it’s just as bad as drunk driving. how could someone even be that stupid? i watched the video, and it may be very graphic, but true.
There is a new program out for Blackberries called Auto TextBak. you can google it. It lets drivers but up an away message on their phone – so when they receive a text message, the program automatically sends a text back explaining that they are busy. I think it will help save lives.
check out what the teachers are doing…..
http://soniccheese.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/learn-how-to-multi-task-behind-the-wheel/
Like the person asking the question in the link says, there are already so many distractions while driving. Using them to distract the reader from the fact that texting or talking while driving is an additional distraction is a straw man defense. What happens when you have one ore more of those distractions present already and then you start texting? If you have enough distractions already, why would you add another one?
What’s more, even if you don’t look at the keys, you still have to put your mind on the keyboard to text. It’s bad enough that just talking on the phone takes your mind off the road. Talking in general, regardless of where your conversation partner is, takes some of your mind away from being able to control your vehicle.
And talking on a cellphone while driving cuts off some of your peripheral vision and limits your body movements. Whereas you could just use your head to look to the side, with a phone to your ear you have to move a larger portion of your body to kee the phone there while looking. Talking or texting wile driving also reduces the number of hands you have available to control your vehicle by half! Or more!
Do us all a favor: Pull over to the shoulder or into a parking lot to text. And at the very least, wear a headset or use speakerphone while talking.