Have you seen this video yet? It’s the newest PSA to show teenagers (and adults too for that matter) what can happen when you aren’t paying attention when you are driving. I personally think it’s a great video (though it did make me cry — especially when the little girl is crying out “why aren’t mommy and daddy waking up”). I just hope people get the point. This can and does happen every day. People are saying that it’s too graphic. I think it’s the only way to get through sometimes.
The video is a tad long, but I’d love to hear what you all think.
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Yes, the video is extremely graphic, and as realistic as you can get.
The police, fire fighters and paramedics are faced with similar situations every day – why should 'we' be protected from reality? I think the Europeans have the right idea to inform & educate drivers – sometimes shockingly, but if the video saves one life it's worth spreading the word.
I'm forwarding this video to people I care about.
Thanks Heather! I think sometime reality is the only way to get through to some people.
I personally think this video needs to reach as many people as possible. It will serve as a wake-up call to those who think they can get away with being negligent or distracted while driving.
I agree Jen. Sometimes we need a wakeup to the consequences of our actions.
I think this video is a great way to get the point across that texting while driving is bad. I think too many kids don't see what really could happen, but they need to.
I'm sending this to my sister, she has been known to text and drive.
I'm an ER nurse and I wish I could show this video to everyone, not just teens. I want to stop people on the street and say "Watch this." And remeind them that it only takes a few seconds of inattention to cause an accident.
The biggest problem with texting is that the driver is engaging in an ongoing activity that requires frequent glances at the screen. During this time, the driver is not watching driving conditions, their vehicle's speed, the speed of surrounding traffic, behavior of other drivers, discussing the texts with passengers, the list could go on and on.
Thru the duration of the distracting event, many conditions I listed can get out of safe perameters that contribute to a crash. You start speeding up without realizing it, you don't see the traffic bottleneck ahead, you don't see surrounding drivers swerving to miss one of those tire-shreds in the road, and it all leads up to an accident. Sadly, I can tell you that this accident was pretty "clean."
It's not just teenagers who cause these accidents, but based on what I've seen, they make up a large part because they tend to over-estimate their driving ability. Additionally, new drivers haven't been on the road long enough to understand the real dangers that are out there. You can compared this to more experienced drivers who have seen bad accidents or "not-too-bad" accidents like going into a ditch.
Teenagers have developmental milestones to reach which, unfortunately, they are experiencing during the early driving years and will not be reached until about age 20. (Milestones are not just for babies.) One example is the feeling of invinciblity which is expressed thru teens' feelings like "It can't happen to me," over-estimation of one's skills, and the inconceivable thought that they won't be here tomorrow. These misconceptions continue until the frontal lobe development had progressed a little further.
Thank you so much for sharing this video and I hope that many parents of teen drivers will show this to their children. I have a teen driver and I plan on showing her this when she gets home.
MediaCurves.com just conducted a study with 300 viewers of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) from the U.K. illustrating the dangers of texting and driving. Results showed that majority of viewers (80%) reported that they are less likely to text while driving after watching the PSA. The study also found that 85% of American viewers reported that the PSA should be aired in the U.S. The majority of viewers (87%) believe that the PSA is appropriate in nature, and 86% also indicated that the PSA was extremely effective. More in-depth results can be viewed at http://www.mediacurves.com/NationalMediaFocus/J75…
Thanks,
Ben
I think it's outrageous that people think this is too graphic! This is exactly the type of thing people who think texting while driving is acceptable need to see! I've shown it to my teens, and yes, it did freak them out, but hopefully that fear remains with them! Am I wrong for feeling that way? Possibly. But it if prevents them from causing a situation like this, then it's a good thing!
I actually saw it first on my local news and they were the ones that said people were upset because it was too graphic.
I think, especially for teenagers, this is exactly what they need to see. I know as a teenager I thought I was invincible and I didn't get it. As a mom, I certainly do now.
They think it is too graphic? Get real people! Life is graphic. They won't think it is too graphic when they are the ones in an accident. Something has to be done before more people die from those who don't pay attention while driving.
I saw this and it's scary especially when you have teens like me who are just starting to drive and also text maniacs. It reminded me of the red asphalt videos we watched during driver's ed.. my time.
It is really sad that videos like this have to be made to dramatize the harse realities of texting while driving.
You see it all the time when you are driving when you just happn to look over at the car in the lane next to you because they are getting a little close to the lane divider line and what do you know, they are texting or talking o their cell phone.
I can honestly say that I have never once attempted to text while driving and if I need to talk to someone while I'm in my car, I pull over to the side of the road. If somebody calls me when I'm driving, they can leave a message.
I don't know if my awareness when I'm driving comes from being a cyclist or not, but since I started riding my roadbike and avoiding a lot of potentially deadly accidents with cars, I have really ramped up my alertness while driving.
The PSA is graphic but it provides a good reminder of how dangerous driving while texting can be. It's as simple as turning your phone off when entering the car.
it really provides a good reminder of how dangerous driving while texting can be.
Am very glad they've made it illegal here in WA state. Very dangerous and a lot of accidents because of it. Everyone should watch this vid IMHO! cheers,
brid