Driving While Distracted (Anyone, Not Just Teens)

A pretty intense PSA was produced in the UK targeting texting while driving. I’ve seen comments by well-intentioned folks suggesting that it is too graphic for teen consumption. I have a hard time understanding their logic. If you haven’t already seen the video, you can see it here:



Utah has also produced a lengthy video about texting while driving that is worth the time it takes to view it.





I’m not a great believer in showing graphic videos to teens as a means of convincing them not to take risks, or drive irresponsibly. Preaching abstinence just doesn’t work very well. That’s why I believe we should be banning all cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle. I also understand that this will probably not happen in my lifetime.

Trinity Noble has developed technology that will only prevent the driver from using a hand-held cell phone while the vehicle is in motion above 15mph. It will still allow calls using blue tooth hands-free units. It requires FCC approval in order to be legally installed in a vehicle.

Until we all realize that driving while distracted is dangerous, and change our behavior, the gruesome collision statistics will continue to pile up. No text message or call is so important that we should be risking the lives of others so that we can handle it. Yet that’s precisely what so many drivers today do, every day. How did we collectively develop such an inflated sense of importance?