Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, August 18, 2009
News Texting While Driving
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 9:03 AM
First, I almost got run over by a woman who was texting while driving yesterday—she'd drifted into the bike lane on Santa Monica Boulevard, and I had to hop up onto the curb to get out of her way, hoisting my roughly 400 pound bike up onto the curb with me.
Second, pretty nice production values for an anti-texting-while-driving PSA created by "a British high school and a local police department." I mean, they've got two copters.
The entire PSA is 30 minutes long. More info at Fast Company, link courtesy of Slog tipper Steve G.
2
What are you hauling around that causes your bike to weigh 400 lbs? a baby elephant? Also you're very strong, apparently.
8
Wow! That was grim.
Makes me even more thankful that you weren't road kill, Dan. Stay safe out there!
Makes me even more thankful that you weren't road kill, Dan. Stay safe out there!
9
400 lb bike? Dang! Is it some kind of mountain bike? My husband is a biker like you, has a lovely bike designed for his 6ft 6in frame. I'm guessing your including your own weight in the pick up, but still 400 lbs? Maybe, my husband's bike weighs more than I thought. Seeing as I can pick that sucker up and move it, hang it, load it into a car, then that means the bench pressing must be paying off.
Yes, texting while driving is a stupid move.
Yes, texting while driving is a stupid move.
10
Dan,
I agree texting and cell phone usage should be banned while driving. In fact, after reading about that Air Traffic Controller who was using his cell phone minutes before that helicopter and small plane collided last week in NYC and the operator of that LA area commuter train who was texting during the collision with a freight train last fall, I believe ALL transportation workers (pilots, train operators/engineers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, air/train traffic controllers, horse carriage coachmen etc.) MUST not use a cell phone (to text or call) during work hours. The evidence is piling up.
I agree texting and cell phone usage should be banned while driving. In fact, after reading about that Air Traffic Controller who was using his cell phone minutes before that helicopter and small plane collided last week in NYC and the operator of that LA area commuter train who was texting during the collision with a freight train last fall, I believe ALL transportation workers (pilots, train operators/engineers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, air/train traffic controllers, horse carriage coachmen etc.) MUST not use a cell phone (to text or call) during work hours. The evidence is piling up.
12
The British don't fuck around with PSAs. Have you ever seen that "Buckle Up in the Back" one?
Advantage number eight million four hundred and fifty-six to a robust state-run television network and licensing scheme.
Advantage number eight million four hundred and fifty-six to a robust state-run television network and licensing scheme.
13
Holy s$^#! I hardly ever talk on the phone while driving but this is a good reminder that once is even too much. Should be required viewing for teens AND moms.
14
I think Dan was making a crack about how heavy the particular bike he was on was, as it is probably a borrowed or rented bike.
If you're used to a 20 lb road bike, getting around on a 30 - 40 lb cruiser, low end mtb, Dutch city bike or old 10-speed feels like you've got about 400 lbs of bike under you.
Also, anyone who texts while driving is a selfish idiot. No, your text message is not that important. It's just not.
If you're used to a 20 lb road bike, getting around on a 30 - 40 lb cruiser, low end mtb, Dutch city bike or old 10-speed feels like you've got about 400 lbs of bike under you.
Also, anyone who texts while driving is a selfish idiot. No, your text message is not that important. It's just not.
16
I almost hit a biker today, because he ran a red light, and decided not to speed up. He was turning right on red onto Olive Way, into the lane that turns onto the freeways. And, didn't stop at all for the red light he had. Just sped through it. If I hit him, I'd be the one at fault. ASSHOLE.
17
This video would save countless of lives if they made it mandatory viewing on all schools and then when they apply for a driver license, here more than in the uk. Nothing like explicitness to drive thru a point especially with teens these days. I hope some in our educational system take notice of this.
19
Jesus Christ, people. You and your asinine texts and your asinine cellphone calls are not important. Period. Get over yourselves and off the fucking phone.
There's a huge correlation between people who will never set down their cellphones and people who are unbelievably boring and insufferable.
There's a huge correlation between people who will never set down their cellphones and people who are unbelievably boring and insufferable.
20
Every day when I'm walking to a bus or home I must see 10 to 20 people talking on cell phones or texting while driving.
We need to treat it the same way we do severe alcoholics driving without seatbelts.
We need to treat it the same way we do severe alcoholics driving without seatbelts.
22
I was once behind someone who text through THREE green lights, and traffic was backed up to where I couldn't safely go around this stupid bint. I honked, twenty cars behind me honked, she still wouldn't move her ass until her oh-so-important message was done. God I hoped someone rear-ended her later that day.
I'm of the mindset that if you're caught using text messaging or non-hands free cellphones, mandatory jail time.
I'm of the mindset that if you're caught using text messaging or non-hands free cellphones, mandatory jail time.
23
at least with phone calling you're actually looking at the road. maybe you're not processing the info you see as fast as you should be, but you are at least seeing it. but texting while driving...? can they even do that by touch, kids these days, or do they look down at the keypad the whole time?
24
No, I see it as people creep across the intersections on N 45th and NE 45th - it's pretty bad.
A small kid could walk in front of their car and they'd never know until after the child died from texting or phoning under the influence.
A small kid could walk in front of their car and they'd never know until after the child died from texting or phoning under the influence.
25
@23: I assume it's like regular keyboarding, that if you're familiar with the keypad set up that you could theoretically blind-type (some newer phones have specific keyboards just for texting, just Qwerty, so Dvorak users are SOL there), but that also takes away a hand from the steering wheel.
Heard of a story of a teen that drove with his feet (!) on the steering wheel, to free both hands to text.
Heard of a story of a teen that drove with his feet (!) on the steering wheel, to free both hands to text.
26
I think a perfect commercial-length PSA would go as follows:
-POV shot of someone texting and looking downward (so the viewer can't even see the road).
-WHAM! Car crash. Viewer doesn't even see what happened on the road or who hit them. (I'd include lots of blood, but that probably wouldn't fly for broadcast TV)
-Cut to black/obligatory screen with something along the lines of "Your text or your life? Which is more important?"
Alternatively:
-POV shot of someone texting and looking downward (so the viewer can't even see the road).
-POV shot sends off text message and returns eyes to road, only to see they are mere milliseconds from a car crash.
-Cut to black right as crash occurs with obligatory black screen with white text (as above).
Whole thing could be less than 15 seconds and I think it'd really drive the point home (could also do one for messing with an iPod while driving, since that's equally dangerous). Then again, I realize how completely fucking idiotic texting while you're driving is, so maybe it'd just be preaching to the choir.
Another thing to consider is bringing it up anytime you're in the car with someone who's fucking with their phone. Everyone has friends who think they can talk and drive at the same time, but we're all well-aware of those studies that say using a phone (hands-free or not) seriously impacts the ability to drive well, and your friends aren't fucking special.
Shit should be illegal.
-POV shot of someone texting and looking downward (so the viewer can't even see the road).
-WHAM! Car crash. Viewer doesn't even see what happened on the road or who hit them. (I'd include lots of blood, but that probably wouldn't fly for broadcast TV)
-Cut to black/obligatory screen with something along the lines of "Your text or your life? Which is more important?"
Alternatively:
-POV shot of someone texting and looking downward (so the viewer can't even see the road).
-POV shot sends off text message and returns eyes to road, only to see they are mere milliseconds from a car crash.
-Cut to black right as crash occurs with obligatory black screen with white text (as above).
Whole thing could be less than 15 seconds and I think it'd really drive the point home (could also do one for messing with an iPod while driving, since that's equally dangerous). Then again, I realize how completely fucking idiotic texting while you're driving is, so maybe it'd just be preaching to the choir.
Another thing to consider is bringing it up anytime you're in the car with someone who's fucking with their phone. Everyone has friends who think they can talk and drive at the same time, but we're all well-aware of those studies that say using a phone (hands-free or not) seriously impacts the ability to drive well, and your friends aren't fucking special.
Shit should be illegal.
27
I went to school at Bothell High, and they would do this every year shortly before prom to show how drinking and driving was bad, they got people from our own class to all get in torn up car together, and then the police and medics came, they even got a helicopter for our senior class.
28
texting while driving is idiotic, and so is talking on the phone while driving. i just wish they would ban talking on those earpieces too, since that is JUST AS DANGEROUS. it makes no sense to me that talking on a phone is somehow much more dangerous than talking on a hands-free set. especially since there is no difference. it's like lawmakers wanted to address it but not actually cause anyone any sort of inconvenience.
29
The production values on this PSA are awesome. Frankly, it was more intense than the big pile up in Final Destination 2, and would have accomplished exactly the same thing in that movie while feeling like it could actually happen.
The infant's ultra-still constricted eyes will haunt me for a while.
And yes, I'm embarrassed about having willingly seen Final Destination 2. Heard the first one was a touch better.
Oh, and re: texting while driving -- no-brainer. Do it; lose your brain.
The infant's ultra-still constricted eyes will haunt me for a while.
And yes, I'm embarrassed about having willingly seen Final Destination 2. Heard the first one was a touch better.
Oh, and re: texting while driving -- no-brainer. Do it; lose your brain.
30
@26: What I like (or hate, I guess, which is what I like) about the video in the post is that it emphasizes that it's not merely your life you risk when you text and drive. The driver is not a sociopath: she's screaming in the car after the collision not just because she herself is hurt. Her screams become truly agonized when she realizes she has probably murdered her friend. The viewer can emphasize with the driver -- she's a caring person who did an unforgiveably careless thing. I watch the video (ok, I only made it through 90 seconds before I couldn't take it any longer) and think, "She is like me. I'd never be able to live with myself if I did something that stupid. But I _have_ done things that stupid, and was lucky enough not to kill someone. I can't rely on my luck holding. I am never fucking ever texting while driving." I wouldn't necessarily have that response if they just showed someone doing something stupid and dying on account of it.
31
I am free because i do not have a cell phone and do not know how to drive, mixing the 2 while driving is a hazard to your life
32
Totally creepy PSA- nauseating to watch. The point is well taken. This definitely strikes a nerve. We were driving across the Montlake bridge and some a**hole was texting in the car next to us and totally drifted into our lane, nearly sideswiping us at 30mph. Not to mention it was our newborn baby's side of the car. If I could have swacked this jerk upside the head for his stupidity, I would have. I'm still furious about it. Was getting the latest twitter update really worth risking our family? Jerk.
Hopefully millions of people see this PSA and stop texting!
Hopefully millions of people see this PSA and stop texting!
33
Why all these prohibitions and useless laws... why can't we instead have the use of softwares like http://www.drivesafe.ly/ made binding and necessary for cell users... and cellular companies to dole out to their consumer??
34
Why all these prohibitions and useless laws... why can't we instead have the use of softwares like http://www.drivesafe.ly/ made binding and necessary for cell users... and cellular companies to dole out to their consumer??
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