Anti Texting PSA in London Schools

[33girl]

Yeah, I'm messed up, but was I the only one who wanted her to surreptitiously reach over, pick up the phone and see if she got a text back?

This is like the "Bloody Mess Behind The Wheel" movies they used to show us in high school - so ridiculous and over the top that no one will take it seriously. Showing a kid getting a ticket, losing their car and/or license and being forced to ride a smelly, overcrowded with gross people bus would have been a more effective deterrent.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yeah, I'm messed up, but was I the only one who wanted her to surreptitiously reach over, pick up the phone and see if she got a text back?

Awesome.

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yeah, I'm messed up, but was I the only one who wanted her to surreptitiously reach over, pick up the phone and see if she got a text back?

No. That's what I thought she was going to do when she turned her head.

[PM_Mama00]

How the hell did they do that?

[DrPhil]

Teens tend to feel invincible and so do adults who think "I'm better than your average texting driver/drunk driver/driver with only one hand on the steering wheel/driver who is holding a crying baby/driver who is taking a quick nap on cruise control...so I can pull this off."

This, in combination with the laws in half the states, will probably reach adults more than teen drivers. I didn't even know this was directed at teenagers when Bill O'Reilly first aired some of it; and I saw the rest on youtube the next day.

It might not matter what age group it reaches. I haven't seen a study that states that teens text and drive more than adults do--there may be such a study. I just want it to reach people who wouldn't have the sense to not text and drive without the PSA.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

It might not matter what age group it reaches. I haven't seen a study that states that teens text and drive more than adults do--there may be such a study. I just want it to reach people who wouldn't have the sense to not text and drive without the PSA.

That's one of my questions as well. There was a recent motor vehicle accident in the Boston area where a prominent physician at one of the Harvard-affiliated hospitals was killed. There was some discussion early on that she may have been texting/emailing on her Blackberry at the time of the accident. I didn't read any follow-up articles, so I'm not sure if that was the case.

However, with the growing popularity of Blackberries and other smartphones, and the resulting "always on the job" feeling that comes from them, I would guess that there's a sizeable amount of adults who are guilty of the same behavior.

ETA: Here's a link to the story on the Boston doctor: http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...l_directo.html

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

That's one of my questions as well. There was a recent motor vehicle accident in the Boston area where a prominent physician at one of the Harvard-affiliated hospitals was killed. There was some discussion early on that she may have been texting/emailing on her Blackberry at the time of the accident. I didn't read any follow-up articles, so I'm not sure if that was the case.

However, with the growing popularity of Blackberries and other smartphones, and the resulting "always on the job" feeling that comes from them, I would guess that there's a sizeable amount of adults who are guilty of the same behavior.

ETA: Here's a link to the story on the Boston doctor: http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...l_directo.html

Thanks for the link. I know a 30-something man who totalled the family car 2 minutes from their home because he wanted to send an "I'm home" text before he pulled into the neighborhood and parked his car.

I think adults text while driving more than teens. For one, adults drive way more than teens and, as you said, most adults have access to a BB or other device. Even if they are not texting, they may be checking their appointments, emails, GPS/directions, or making phone calls instead of voice dialing. Anything where you are messing with your phone--and not looking at the road--is the same as texting while driving.

And talking on the phone while driving is still dangerous even if you are hands-free. A study found that it is the conversation that is distracting and not whether your hands are free. That's why I try to keep convos to a minimum.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And talking on the phone while driving is still dangerous even if you are hands-free. A study found that it is the conversation that is distracting and not whether your hands are free. That's why I try to keep convos to a minimum.

Very true.

...And another study released recently found that you're about 23 times more likely to be in an accident (or a near-accident situation) if you're texting, rather than talking to someone on the phone. The obvious problem being, when you're texting, you're not looking at the road.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10296992-94.html