Back in June, I published a post about people who send texts whilst driving.
I often say to pupils when we’re out on lessons (and if it’s safe to do so) and we’re sitting at traffic lights “just have a look at this guy on the right. Look at his eyes. He’s sending a text.” And they are. You should see how they react when they see us looking at them.
Today, I got this link via an email from PCMag – a site I subscribe to. Bear in mind that it is an American site, but there is no way the data aren’t valid for us in the UK.
Distracted drivers **“ including those sending and reading text messages from behind the wheel **“ caused the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in 2008, according to Wednesday data from the Department of Transportation.
In addition to the almost 6,000 people who died last year, more than half a million people were injured by distracted drivers, according to Wednesday findings from DOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Driver distraction was involved in 16 percent of all fatal crashes last year.
Unlike the UK, America doesn’t appear to have a nationwide legislation regarding use of mobile phones. However, since it seems that most people in the UK flaunt the rule anyway, it is likely that they contribute to a significant number of accidents over here.
EDIT 4/10/2009: One of my pupils sent me the link to a recent BBC story . It contains this video on YouTube, created to show the dangers of texting when driving – it’s the full HD version from YouTube I’ve linked to, and it is very graphic:
[Link removed – no longer works]I have to be honest, but I find it incredible that people who are as stupid as this are even allowed to sit a driving test, let alone go out unsupervised. But it is a growing problem – and as much as I applaud Gwent Police for doing it, it is going to take a little more than a video on YouTube to turn braindead idiots into even passably responsible drivers.
If you think I’m being unreasonable, look at some of the usual “learned” responses to the video on the YouTube page here .
I was on a lesson this morning and I said to my pupil as we were stopped at lights:
Look at the guy driving the car behind. What do you think he is doing?
His eyes were up and down, up and down. As we moved off, he overtook and I warned my pupil he would probably cut in. He did. He then weaved in and out across two lanes and turned left without indicating – stopping on green lights to let someone turn in front of him for some reason (they were stationary in the middle of the road). He disappeared somewhat faster than us after that. Then – about half a mile further on – we came to a roundabout. A car cut out across three lanes of traffic right in front of us, and guess who it was? My pupil said:
Look! It’s him again!
He then wandered in and out across two lanes of a dual carriageway and disappeared at speed again.