Using a mobile whilst driving - shocking police video

[goo_mason]

Nearly 50% of young drivers (17 - 24) text whilst driving, which apparently slows their reaction times by 35%, acording to this article on the BBC. Gwent police have made a shocking new video to show to school pupils the consequences.

 

[fossyant]

I've seen that video - it's very good (i.e. hitting home) - texting on a phone is worse than talking....

Nothing like a 'shocking' ad....get it on prime time...........

 

[Tynan]

only 35%?

I'd have thought in many instances it'd have stopped any reaction at all

 

[lazyfatgit]

I say outlaw mobile phones.

Life was simpler when you told the wife you were going out for a ride and would be back later.

There's already been one person killed by a woman texting whilst driving. I'm sure it's a facto in other collisions.

Unfortunately people just drive in an irresponsible manner. Having commuted by car to Glagow for 9.5yrs, i'd see the same tossers in traffic reading papers, etc whilst stop starting on the M8. No wonder there were shunts nearly every week.

 

[thomas]

I'm not sure how well it would work...just because "I'm not a women, I can actually drive and text", "It won't happen to me"...blah blah.

I just feel the start seems to implausible (however plausible), to be taken seriously.

Maybe it'll work better with girls, I don't know.

 

[PBancroft]

The problem is that people won't even think "it won't happen to me" - I bet it won't even get onto their radar.

People are so used to having their mobile phones with them at all times, answering them at all times, reading texts at all times that they simply won't think twice about doing so when driving. Its a major problem, and I don't think it will change with one video, no matter how good it is.

Its going to take a national shift in understanding, much like with drink driving. That won't happen until the popular press gets on board... but I suspect they're too concerned about the poor persecuted motorist at the moment.

 

[Bristol Dave]

Good video. It reminded me of the ones we had as kids (although they were film reals) of the "Dangers of playing on a building site" and such.

Thing is, we still played on building sites. It was good fun

BD

 

[Tynan]

Remember everyone stopping for a day or so when they brought in spot fines, and they started again almost at once when it was clear that the cops weren't going to bother

 

[ChrisKH]

Interesting that there are no comparable rules in the United States (or none that are enforced) and it is considered normal to use the phone whilst driving/parking etc. Rules may vary between individual States though. I spotted at least five people over a three week period using a mobile/Blackberry in dangerous circumstances. They have a greater proportion of Blackberry type e-mail/text phones out there so people aren't just using the phone but reading and responding to texts and e-mails.

 

[Archie_tect]

Wow, everyone should see this!

A momentary distraction is all it takes, that's how a friend was killed on his motorbike when someone "didn't see him"...

 

[Camgreen]

Hard hitting video in every sense of the word. I'd screen it on terrestrial tv as previously with drink/drive ads. From my own personal observations the message needs to go out far wider than a school age audience.

 

[nilling]

Local force have been clamping down on those drivers found not wearing seatbelts, in known "hot" areas - whatever that means! It would seem that this is a higher priority than using a mobile whilst driving

 

[zacklaws]

Hopefully the video will save live's but sadly their is the hardcore, "it won't happen to me, because I'm a good driver" attitude in too many drivers.
I knew a girl at work with the same attitude, who was always getting warned for driving at speed at work, but she kept claiming she was too good a driver and could stop her car dead if she had too. I could not stop laughing when she bought a new car and promptly put it into a ditch a mile down the road by going to fast and righting it off.

But every day at work, I see people pass by me with a mobile stuck to their ear without a care in the world.

Its just a pity with todays technology, mobile phones cannot be immobilised if they are moving over a certain speed and will only accept a ring tone to let you know you have a call.

 

[hackbike 666]

The rule in my job is that mobile phones must be switched off while driving.

I have no problems with this.

 

[Bollo]

Mobile use is endemic around mine and Kaipaith's gaff. It's not uncommon to see someone climb into their car, start the engine, pull out their mobile and start texting and driving at the same time. Never heard of any enforcement.