Interesting study but the failure of law enforcement to effectively enforce local laws, and an indifferent driving public, especially among younger drivers, is more of a significant factor. As a state insurance trade association executive director, I see a variety of news stories where some states report significant numbers of citations written while no information from other agencies whatsoever.
Leave it to a university study to look into excuses rather than focusing on solving the problem. As I travel the states of Georgia and Alabama, there are days when I have yet to find a state trooper between Atlanta and Birmingham on I-20.
It would be important to have some specific reporting on citations in states where there is a law prohibiting texting while driving and look at what citations are written. As a motorist I see it very regularly even in Atlanta traffic.
Let’s look more at problem and solution, not justification.
The study is looking at the problem – that being people aren’t even aware they are performing the activity. No amount of citations will prevent something from happening if you aren’t aware you are doing it in the first place. What they are suggesting is that for a certain percentage of drivers, we need to figure out how to break the automatic habit.
This is ridiculous. I don’t believe for a second that a person is driving takes their phone out and responds to a text and doesn’t know it, until after it’s over. They are driving watching the road the phone the keyboard, probably swirving a bit because of watching the phone, and they want me to believe the person gets done and says “wow, what just happened, you mean I was texting?” No way, that’s the biggest bunch of crap, just another way to try to excuse, inexcusable behavior.
I can see two things in the future 1) Trial lawyers using the insanity defense when someone kills while texting 2) a new cottage industry of places to go to quit texting. They have them for drugs and alcohol. “Hi, I’m Anejo and I’m a texter”
Businesses understand this. We’ve been helping customers modify vehicle use policies to attend to texting specifically.
Different employers have different metrics. Just visited one this morning who includes: ‘if you have an accident while texting or dialing out, you’re fired.’ Very clear, very simple. And guess what? Better experience than those with weaker text / cell policies.
But Geoff, how can you defend these greedy capitalists just because their policies actually help solve the problem? They are exploiting their workers! It’s not the texters’ fault. They can’t help it. The professional studiers said so. Of course, “more research is needed.” Surprise, surprise.
I agree its a public safety concern… The CDC just reported that 60% of older teens routinely Text and Drive. I think its starting to become clear that legislation has value in raising public awareness in forums like this one but it will be difficult to solely legislate our way out of this issue. I also read that over 3/4 of teens text daily – many text more than 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook – even with their professors. Tweens (ages 9 -12) send texts to each other from their bikes. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and its not going away.
I decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user, I built a texting asset called OTTER that is a simple and intuitive GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. While driving, OTTER silences those distracting call ringtones and chimes unless a bluetooth is enabled. The texting auto reply allows anyone to schedule a ‘texting blackout period’ in any situation like a meeting or a lecture without feeling disconnected. This software is a social messaging tool for the end user that also empowers this same individual to be a sustainably safer driver.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER app
do one thing well… be great.
Interesting study but the failure of law enforcement to effectively enforce local laws, and an indifferent driving public, especially among younger drivers, is more of a significant factor. As a state insurance trade association executive director, I see a variety of news stories where some states report significant numbers of citations written while no information from other agencies whatsoever.
Leave it to a university study to look into excuses rather than focusing on solving the problem. As I travel the states of Georgia and Alabama, there are days when I have yet to find a state trooper between Atlanta and Birmingham on I-20.
It would be important to have some specific reporting on citations in states where there is a law prohibiting texting while driving and look at what citations are written. As a motorist I see it very regularly even in Atlanta traffic.
Let’s look more at problem and solution, not justification.
The study is looking at the problem – that being people aren’t even aware they are performing the activity. No amount of citations will prevent something from happening if you aren’t aware you are doing it in the first place. What they are suggesting is that for a certain percentage of drivers, we need to figure out how to break the automatic habit.
Perhaps a few citations will clue them into their problem. Hopefully before they kill themselves or someone else.
just themselves, but that may be too much to hope for.
This is ridiculous. I don’t believe for a second that a person is driving takes their phone out and responds to a text and doesn’t know it, until after it’s over. They are driving watching the road the phone the keyboard, probably swirving a bit because of watching the phone, and they want me to believe the person gets done and says “wow, what just happened, you mean I was texting?” No way, that’s the biggest bunch of crap, just another way to try to excuse, inexcusable behavior.
I can see two things in the future 1) Trial lawyers using the insanity defense when someone kills while texting 2) a new cottage industry of places to go to quit texting. They have them for drugs and alcohol. “Hi, I’m Anejo and I’m a texter”
You just gave me the perfect idea for my retirement income. Text Counseling!!!
Businesses understand this. We’ve been helping customers modify vehicle use policies to attend to texting specifically.
Different employers have different metrics. Just visited one this morning who includes: ‘if you have an accident while texting or dialing out, you’re fired.’ Very clear, very simple. And guess what? Better experience than those with weaker text / cell policies.
But Geoff, how can you defend these greedy capitalists just because their policies actually help solve the problem? They are exploiting their workers! It’s not the texters’ fault. They can’t help it. The professional studiers said so. Of course, “more research is needed.” Surprise, surprise.
Check out the sarcasm.
I can almost believe that people who are stupid enough to text while driving are stupid enough to not know they’re doing it – almost.
I was glad to see that the authors of the study said it wasn’t an attempt to excuse the behavior but to find ways to change it.
Wow, a bunch of stupid comments in this article.
I agree its a public safety concern… The CDC just reported that 60% of older teens routinely Text and Drive. I think its starting to become clear that legislation has value in raising public awareness in forums like this one but it will be difficult to solely legislate our way out of this issue. I also read that over 3/4 of teens text daily – many text more than 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook – even with their professors. Tweens (ages 9 -12) send texts to each other from their bikes. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and its not going away.
I decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user, I built a texting asset called OTTER that is a simple and intuitive GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. While driving, OTTER silences those distracting call ringtones and chimes unless a bluetooth is enabled. The texting auto reply allows anyone to schedule a ‘texting blackout period’ in any situation like a meeting or a lecture without feeling disconnected. This software is a social messaging tool for the end user that also empowers this same individual to be a sustainably safer driver.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER app
do one thing well… be great.
Most people don’t realize it until they face it head on