Driving While Texting – Just Don’t Do It
Oct 28, 2009 
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Spend any amount of time on this blog and you’ll quickly see that I’m a huge proponent of leveraging mobile technology to enhance everyday life. Yet, like so many other things, when this technology is misused or abused it can have grave consequences. And as of recently, nothing strikes me as scarier than texting while driving.
The video above was produced by a UK police department. It depicts a teenage girl texting while driving, which is then followed by a very terrible, graphic, and fatal crash. The message of this Public Service Announcement is clear: Stop texting while behind the wheel! It’s a killer.
The United States is also cracking down. The state of New York will be issuing $150 tickets to those caught Driving While Texting (DWT). In Utah, causing an accident while texting will be on par with drunk driving. It is an act of willful negligence and will carry steep fines. Those causing an accident could face jail terms of up to 15 years.
Dr. Phil is even bringing this issue to the media forefront. Speaking to a hardheaded teen about the dangers of DWT, he said,
“You don’t have the right to do that. You may think you can and you may think you need to be plugged in about whatever is happening at school and the latest gossip, but I’m driving on that street. My mother is driving on that street. All of our families are driving on that street. And we’re not really concerned with whether you are plugged in or not.”
Now for some confession. I’m guilty. Yes, I have been known to text, email, and tweet while driving at speeds of 70+ mph. But not any more. The statistics are alarming. Dr. Phil is correct. Crashes like the one in the video above are happening across the nation. When I text behind the wheel my attention is diverted from driving. Not only am I putting myself in danger, but also my passengers and the other drivers on the road. What changed things for me? Its my 1 year old little girl who regularly rides in my backseat. She’s my world and if anything were to ever happen to her… Well, you get it.
I’d love to discuss this with you further. Take a few minutes and comment back on one or all of the questions below.
- What did you think about the video? Shocking? Too graphic?
- How is texting while driving similar to drinking while driving?
- If you wrote the laws, would DWT be illegal? If so, how steep would you make the fine?
- Do you text while behind the wheel? If so, do you ever think about the dangers?
- Would you be willing to protect yourself and others (including my little girl) by pulling over when you must text?
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I am guilty of this too. When you put it in terms of being able to save my children's lives there is no question. I will stop after today. Really, what is so important that I have to email/text that very minute…certainly nothing that could risk someone's safety. Thanks for the reminder.
I posted this on Facebook a couple months! Absolutely terrifying…….!
Yeesh.
No more texting/tweeting while driving for me.
Thanks for the reminder.
FYI – Intensedebate won't let me log in via twitter
Daniel,
Alas, I am guilty too. But as you say, NO MORE! It’s JUST not worth it. Besides, we got along just fine without all the up-to-the-minute info BEFORE we had these phones, etc., so we can get along without them for a few hours now! Right? Good post!
Well, in Norway it's now illegal to drive and talk.. And as far as I see it, texting demands FAR more of your attention than answering phone calls!!
It should DEFINITELY be illegal. DEFINITELY.
@dianaguiney, the perspective certainly changes when what we're choosing to do is not all about ourselves in the moment. Thank you for making this change with me.
Brandon, I'm right there with you. No more for me either. Also, I'll look into the Intense Debate issue.
@kjerstia, I agree. Far more dangerous than just talking.
Amy, I have a feeling MANY of us are guilty of this. And you're right… we made it through life just fine before all of this new technology. Im sure we'll make it.
This vid should get an award from Youtube. Excellent. Nobody needs to talk desperately to anyone unless it's an emergency. Nice job!
As I watched this video tears started to stream down my face as I am reminded how blessed me and family are!!! This is very real to me, I quickly had a flash back of Jacob unconscious in the back seat of our car. Just prior to that we were listening to worship music on the radio, and his arms were raised and he was singing praises to our God. Stephen was on the cell phone and asked for my second opinion on weather or not he should make the left hand turn. The impact was so great, his boss who was on the other line, knew we had been in an accident. God is so good. I look at the people in this video and I realize not all are as lucky and blessed as we are. To this day I don't even like talking on the cell phone while I am driving! Thanks for the reminder!
Eva, knowing you personally, I remember your wreck. Very scary!
I'm reposting this every where!!!
I won't touch my phone when I'm driving, but I know sooo many people who do without giving it a second thought. Numerous tech devices can be distracting … not just phones. No playing with ipods or whatever why you're driving either! Driving is dangerous even when you are alert and focused solely on the road, let alone playing with your phone.
Yes, this is very graphic and difficult to watch. I didn't even make it through the video. However, I feel it might take something this graphic to really get the attention of some. Teenagers especially might not realize they're mortal and might require harsher reminders of this fact than some.
Great post, Mr. Mosley. I hope it has a positive impact on many!
I'm guilty and have even had some close calls because of texting…thanks for reminding us that life is more important than immediate information.
Hey Daniel–
Tough topic! I am thrilled to be part of the first company to actually sell a software that disables text messaging capabilities at 10 miles an hour or faster- thru a gps system–would love to discuss with other community leaders how to get this software out there…please check my website and lets talk soon–
All the best..Wendy Cracchiolo
Phoenix, AZ
Kids safety advocate
Well Said! Not only do I see texting going on while driving, I see people reading o the highway. From now on, if it's important enough for me to call someone on the phone, then it will be just as important to pull my car over and make that call. I would never want to hurt someone because of my stupidity.
http://www.HowsMyTeenDriving.org has a solution to these issues. For a small fee you get a bumper sticker with an 800 number just like the ones we see on commercial vehicles. Call is immediately placed to parents to react right then.
Great responses all. Love the feedback here.
Oh yeah, this topic seems to keep coming up for me. Guilty as charged. As an IT guy I'm constantly using my iPhone to respond to issues, even emailing while driving. That's definitely going to stop. If it's important enough, I've just decided to pull over and respond. I've even taken it a bit further and will not pick up my phone while I'm spending time with my family over lunch or at the dinner table. I want them to know they're more important and their time is more valuable to me than anything else.
Driving a car require full concentration. I keep my eyes on the road when driving. It was a simple down load of drivesafe.ly application that helps me not to type text messages while I drive.
We lost 4 high school senior girls in Rochester NY last year…TWD, head on with an 18-wheeler. So tragic.
Like you, my 5yo, 3yo, and 5mo have not only changed my texting habits (to 0), but also my once absurd speeding habit. To the point that all my staff must also adhere to a “no texting, no more than 5 over” driving rule. For once I feel like the “old crotchety guy,” but at 30. I don’t care now. It’s lives. ch:
I talk to me students all the time about this. I have several that I know text and drive and joke about it. I have several more that are approaching that age and I fear will text and drive because of their texting obsession.
I don't think this video is graphic enough. Sorry but it is true. In out community we have had 3 teen accidents resulting in fatalities in the last year. I am in a rural community with less than 40k in the entire county so this is pretty significant. I know some inside details on all of these accidents and they are a result is distracted driving, every single one of them. Texting, talking on the cell phone, friends acting like idiots, loud music, music listened to through headphones …. these are all major issues affecting teen drivers.
Totally agree. But the teens aren't the only ones. I was driving beside a POLICE OFFICER the other day, looked over and he was typing away on his Blackberry.
Honestly police officers are probably among the most distracted drivers on the road. They have to watch every other driver for reasons to pull them over, they have to stay tuned into dispatch, and many have a computer of some sort they can use to pull up information on vehicles. Ever had a cop pull in behind you for a couple miles before passing you? They were probably reviewing your record to decide if changing lanes without signally or driving 4 miles over is worth pulling you over for.
I have seen several accidents where a clearly distracted officer rear ended a stopped or slow moving car.
Haven’t thought of it that way. I certainly hope texting while driving isn’t part of their job description.