Would you show your teen this bloody texting/driving PSA?
A new very violent, very graphic PSA against texting while driving is creating a buzz on the Internet.
The PSA was created in Great Britain and shows very graphically what could happen if teens are driving and texting. It shows teen girls texting and then crashing into a car. And it only gets worse from there. The girls’ car is hit by another car and then other cars fatally crash into the ones behind them.
I have to warn you before you watch this, it is VERY UPSETTING! I literally felt like I was going to throw up after watching it. They even show a baby dead. (I personally wouldn’t watch it if I were pregnant or just had a baby – it’s that upsetting!)
Kansas City.Com reports that the clip that landed on You Tube is part of a 30-minute video that was made to be shown to students in South Wales.
Another big point I think this video illustrates is wear your darn seatbelt — even in the back seat!
So my questions are:
A. What do you think of the video? Is it too violent? Is it too graphic? Do we need to see the dead baby?
B. Would you show this clip to your teen?
C. Do you think it would make them think before driving and texting?
D. Would you be OK with a school showing it to your teen? (I would think you would have to sign a permission slip for them to show this at school.) We did watch a D.A.R.E. or MADD movie in high school about drunk driving. I remember it being pretty scary, but I don’t remember it being this graphic.
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115 comments Add your comment
Perkle
August 26th, 2009
1:50 pm
Absolutely! They need to see the truth about what can happen.
LJH
August 26th, 2009
1:55 pm
Having watched the video a few times, here are my thoughts and responses to the questions. First, my initial reaction was “Holy cow – this is too real!!” I had to confirm that it was indeed a staged production, a very well-staged production. Second, I immediately sent the link to my wife with the message “You need to watch this now.”
To the specific questions:
A) For this day and age, this video is perfect. What is too violent? A high speed, head-on crash is violent. A high speed, head-on crash is graphic. A high speed, head-on crash (usually) kills people. As our society continues to become desensitized to graphic violence – thanks to same in video games, on television, on sites like YouTube, and other outlets – warning messages need to provide equal (if not greater) shock in order to gain attention. Dead teens, dead parents, and especially a dead baby *might* make ALL people think twice about texting while driving.
B) I would show this clip to my teen in a heartbeat; however, as our kids are only 11 and 9, they’re most likely going to see it at a much earlier age.
C) If this video fails to make any person, let alone teens, think before driving and texting something’s amiss.
D) I would be fine with a school showing this to my teen (once they’re teens). After the presentation, I’d like some ER doctors and nurses to discuss and share the realities they’ve seen as related to the same subject. Nobody seems to “get it” until it’s too late. Despite the fact that both of our kids are still years away from driving, we’re already having discussion about “do’s and don’t’s” while driving. Hopefully the “broken record” will stick with them when they’re behind the wheel.
over it
August 26th, 2009
2:00 pm
Texting/phone use while driving should be treated no differently than driving under the influence. I pray everyday my family will not be harmed by some selfish ass*ole that believes that something as meaningless as a silly phone conversation takes precedent over life.
KW
August 26th, 2009
2:04 pm
Yes, I would show this to my teenager if I had one. With all the violent video games and movies they watch, those kinds of scenes are not new to them. But seeing something like this might open their eyes a little. Hopefully more. I remember the videos from driver’s ed in high school too. I don’t remember being overly shocked but I do remember thinking ‘it could never happen to me.’ Hang up the damn phone. I plan on doing it.
Sense Common
August 26th, 2009
2:08 pm
Showing the video and requiring every child nearing driving age to watch it is a no brainer. I wouldn’t show it to a 8 year old and what would be the point, but unless the child was raised in a bubble they have seen worse than this by the time they are 14.
Will it have a positive effect? Not to most kids because the attitude of “not me” has and always will be too strong. But if only one person stopped and thought before driving, then it was worth it. I’m not sure about the clip linked here, but the one I saw had other clips, one of which was a little brat driving for only 4 months and texting her life away. It was a clip from Dr. Phil and he laid into her about how she might think the messages are important to her, she had no right to put him, his family, or any other family in harms way for her self centered act. I think every parent should use this same speech on their children, themselves, and any one else they witness texting while driving.
Kassie
August 26th, 2009
2:23 pm
YES TO ALL QUESTIONS! It was violent, but that is needed…hell, it worked for me…I admit I text while driving. I saw this 2 days ago and every time I took my phone out to text I didn’t do it….It may not work for all teens since they think they are invincible, but it’s worth a try! They see worse at the movies….
New Step Mom
August 26th, 2009
2:23 pm
I have seen the video and it is disturbing. I am glad it is out there and we will save it and show it to my stepdaughter closer to her becoming a driver.
Fred
August 26th, 2009
2:55 pm
Without a doubt show it to my kids and show it at school! I can see where a permission slip might be needed.
Another good one is linked below. I don’t know if I will be able to embed the link so I will also just copy it. I found this one a couple of years ago and have showed it to both of my daughters. It is about the dangers of not wearing seltbelts and how an unbuckled person can injure/kill buckled people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU3Gd0RjDr0
HH
August 26th, 2009
3:06 pm
I’m always horrified at the number of things people do whilst driving. Holding a phone, a drink, a burger, a cigarette, a map, plucking your eye brows……etc. etc. etc. The law should be tougher for everyone to have two hands on the steering wheel. The driving test should be more in depth. People should have professional tuition before driving on their own.
My baby is seven months old and I did find the dead baby part too sickening.
Yes, I would show the video to a teen and hopefully they’re change their mind about texting whilst driving.
It would be a great idea to show this in schools. Teenagers, and younger, are getting desensitized to movies and videos that are violent. Hopefully this type of shock tactic might work.
Dixie Darling
August 26th, 2009
3:09 pm
Agree that this MUST be shown to ALL drivers. I used to text when at red lights or in traffic slow-downs but don’t do that any more. I used to phone friends and family when on uncrowded interstate drives but I rarely do that now. After watching this video, I will not do either text or phone while driving. I will pull over to a safe area and text or call if it is important — and then I will get back into traffic for driving.
This past Sunday afternoon driving through downtown Atlanta on I-75/I-85 I drove behind a lady who was holding a phone to one ear with her right hand and gesturing wildly with her left hand — she must have been driving with her knees! I finally passed her and gave a sigh of relief that I was leaving that potential deadly, stupid driver — but I wondered why she was so stupid. It is people like that who need to see that video — doesn’t matter what their age or sex — stupid is deadly!
erick d
August 26th, 2009
3:26 pm
i think erveryone should watch this video! sure it maybe a little shocking but it would stop people from texting and even talking on the phone while driving.i think the law should be 1 yr loss of licence for talking and texting while driving that mat stop the retards doing it. i get so mad when i see people doing that stuff.
Becky
August 26th, 2009
3:36 pm
Yes, if I had children old enough to drive..I am guilty of talking on my phone while driving, but NOT texting..I can barely text while sitting still, much less while driving…
good grief
August 26th, 2009
3:37 pm
The one behavior that gets me the most is when I see ladies applying make up
1911A1
August 26th, 2009
3:51 pm
What blows my mind more than anything else is the sheer number of people who admit to texting while driving!
That being said, most of those who have admitted texting have also said they are straighaway giving that practice up after seeing the video. That alone is justification enough to show it to teens.
I remember feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof at 17. I wised up quickly after a motorcycle crash (classic left-turning car from the other direction) at 19.
We hold an awesome responsibility when we exercise the privilege of piloting a 3+ ton vehicle among others. As technology advances, so do the distractions that can interfere with our primary responsibility of safe and ATTENTIVE driving. Let us never forget that these distractions, just like drinking and driving, are a choice.
Becky
August 26th, 2009
4:13 pm
@1911A1, I have a nephew that has been in a wheelchair since he was 19 due to a motorcycle wreck..I hope that this isn’t something that happened to you…
Theresa, I tried to answer JJ on the other topic and it was lost..Not sure if it’s my computer or something else..Thanks..
Theresa Walsh Giarrusso
August 26th, 2009
4:38 pm
Becky — I’ll search for it in the system — it spams everything!!
Michelle
August 26th, 2009
6:16 pm
No, I do not think the video is too graphic. I think however that just as distracting as the texting, is the 2 passengers in the car! They were all up by her talking and laughing….this is another problem with teen drivers!
fk
August 26th, 2009
6:49 pm
Definitely show it to anyone and everyone who has a drivers license or simply rides as a passenger to anyone who is consumed by their phones. I drive by an elementary school every morning. And, every morning, without fail, there is at least one parent on the phone, while in the school zone. With sooo much traffic about, and so many distractions, hang up the phone and pay attention. Teen drivers learn their bad driving habits from their parents.
deidre_NC
August 26th, 2009
6:54 pm
(daughters name) died two years ago in the early am on this day. Her second time in a car with teenage driver. A simple trip to the movies and back. No drugs, no alcohol, just high speeds on a road with curves that even seasoned drivers can’t handle. I miss you Barbara and you were and are an angel.
this is a post on my facebook from a good friend of mine whose 16 yo daughter died in a car crash–you can see the circumstances…just speed-no drugs or alcohol–just kids following each other home from town and going way too fast…it was awful…
i would show this to everyone i know…i posted it on my facebook and then many other people did too…i hope my kids watch it…im kinda like DK tho…it wont seem real to lots of kids…in fact it wasnt real…and most kids think well they are smart enough to text and not wreck. i cant do it…im texting while driving challenged really bad….after the wreck of the girl who died the kids here didnt slow down..granted the driver of that car was going over 80 and had just slowed down for the curve from close to 100mph…so these kids think well 50 or 60 or 70 is ok…its not 100….i pray that this video makes kids stop but im afraid it wont..at least not for long…im kinda rambling here…but i think a lot of kids have to experience things themselves to really understand—they always think they are smarter–they are a better driver–they can go fast safely-they can text while driving and be safe…kids just dont know reality yet…its a proven fact. so yeah..i hope all kids see this–but i doubt it will make a lot of difference for long if at all….i think showing it to young kids may make a difference to them…it seems that once a kid hits the teen years they think they become invincible…
DB
August 26th, 2009
7:50 pm
deidre-NC — many, many hugs to you.
nurse&mother
August 26th, 2009
9:58 pm
Do you guys REALLY text and drive??!?? Seriously?? Our family doesn’t text. If I need to talk to someone, I pick up the phone and talk. My daughter wants to text, but we tell her no. There is no need to take twice as long to say something.
Would I show her the video? Absolutely,
Do I think it will impact many teens? Absolutely not. Kids think that it won’t happen to them. They are above wrecking while texting. I don’t think it will hurt to show the video, though.
The violence is NOT too graphic for teens, imho. Look at the movies that most teens watch (far worse than that).
nurse&mother
August 26th, 2009
10:04 pm
Maybe my husband and I are a bunch of old fogies (at least I am willing to admit it)…but what is the appeal for adults to text as opposed to picking up the phone and calling?
As to texting and driving… I think it should be outlawed. Clearly your attention is not where it should be!
Bailey
August 26th, 2009
11:07 pm
I am a teen driver and my mother just got done showing me this video. I mean yeah in the back of my head i keep telling myself that could never happen to me, but its true. A wreck/death happens in a heart beat. Its a scary thought and its very upsetting to hear about other people who are involved. I text and drive I’m not going to lie. But i also realize when its not my time to be not paying attention, i also realize me crossing into another lane and if i had friends in the car they should of too. I find this girls story a little incompetent… Who doesn’t realize something that drastic. I’m not making excuses for the bad habit and i intend of only texting at stop lights or pulling over. Thanks for the video.
DB
August 26th, 2009
11:15 pm
Especially with older kids, those in college, and even with my husband, it’s a quick way to get their attention without intruding on their lives. If my husband’s in court, etc., I can leave a quick text message with a question or something he needs to know, and he can read it quickly without having to go through all his voice mail. Someone can answer a text message question if they are in a library where they couldn’t necessarily talk, at a party where they can’t hear, or when my kids were in H.S., I could leave them text messages about events happening after school, changes in plans, etc. (they couldn’t use them during the day, but they could read them after the final bell.) If I don’t want to interrupt a friend at work by calling, I can leave her a text message that she can read when it’s convenient — usually confirming what time we’re walking together that evening, or changes in plans.
Think of text messages with adults as electronic Post-It notes!
penguinmom
August 26th, 2009
11:17 pm
I would show this to my kids when they are old enough to drive.
nurse&mother – I text my husband occasionally because he gets the text even in areas without reliable cell service. Two of his customers have buildings that are ‘dead zones’ for cellphones. So, if I need to get in touch with him, I text and he gets the message as soon as his phone has any signal at all. Also, sometimes when we just need to tell the other one thing and don’t need a response. (ex. ‘buy milk’ if one of us is at/going to the store.)
DB
August 26th, 2009
11:27 pm
Bailey: You missed the point. Traffic accidents often happen in a split second. Of COURSE if she realized she was drifting lanes, she would have corrected. The point is, SHE DIDN’T. And, it assumes that all the other drivers are also driving responsibly. If your attention is diverted, you can’t make the instant correction needed to avoid someone else doing something stupid.
I know, I know — I’ve been guilty of doing the same thing. And even this afternoon, when driving back from the dog park, I was sitting at a traffic light and the text message signal beeped. My hand automatically reached, like Pavlov’s dog — and I had to stop myself and say, “NO.” It’s a bad habit, that’s all — NOTHING is more important than your life — or the lives of your passengers or the person in the other car that you might hit by accident. No matter how smoothly you think you text and drive, everyone can tell if you are distracted, because your car slows down, is subject to abrupt corrections, and you aren’t maintaining your place in the flow of traffic.
deidre_NC
August 27th, 2009
6:56 am
i love texting..i am not good enough to do it while driving or i probably would have been…i know its wrong…and i know its dangerous…im glad i cant text and drive…as someone above said..a text will go in poor service where a phone call wont…plus its more private..now my daughter and plentyof other teens i iknow can text without even looking at the phone…i have seen teens at work holding their phones out of site and texting away…not looking at all..if i did that it would be gibberish…and teens dont realize that more wrecks happen just from not payng attention for a spplit second..leaning over to grab something…fiddling with the cd player or radio..looking at their friend in the next or back seat…doing these things can make you swerve into the next lane…or make you not see when some other person not paying attention is swerving into your lane…paying attention is the key here…anything you do that is taking your attention off the road is potentailly deadly…add speeeding to that…a potentail death sentence….most teen driving deaths are not caused by drugs or alcohol…they are caused by speed and not paying attention…
JJ
August 27th, 2009
7:39 am
I watched the video last night. I sent a copy to my daughter, and to both nieces. Everyone needs to see this. Yes, it was a Production, but one that really opens your eyes. Especially you see how each of the girls were thrown about the vehicle.
I WILL NEVER EVER TEXT WHILE DRIVING!!!!!!
Fred
August 27th, 2009
7:48 am
As an EMT i can say that I would rather scar my child by having them watch this than having to respond to a call where one of them was involved. I have seen too many accidents (many of them preventable) to think that any method of teaching a child the responsibility of driving a car is too tough. Cars kill, maim and dismember children every day. I clean it up, I hope I never have to meet any of you or your children under those circumstances. Cars are 2- 3 tons of metal hurtling down the road at incredible speeds. they do damage. there is no message that important, as a matter of fact, i just read through all of my messages stored on my phone and the most important one there was a reminder about picking up the dry cleaning. Can you imagine a message like that being responsible for even a single death. I can’t.
sandra d
August 27th, 2009
8:45 am
I will never text and drive again. I have 3 kids, and promise to never do it again.
sandra d
August 27th, 2009
8:46 am
It was graphic an dsiturbing but I appreciate the wake up call. Nothing is worth losing the life of you kids or taking someone elses life. I think everyone should have to watch it.
workingmom
August 27th, 2009
9:15 am
There have been many studies on the effects of texting while driving and all of them have proved that drivers texting are worse drivers than those over the legal drinking limit. Bailey’s comments were typical. Teenagers seem to think “I know better” or “it wouldn’t happen to me as I would know I was crossing the line.” I don’t believe that for a second. Whenever I am on the highway behind someone who is driving erratically (speeding up/slowing down for ne reason, drifting in/out of lane) I make a point to check them out when I pass. 99% of them are dialing or texting.
DB
August 27th, 2009
11:29 am
Maybe we should start making “DUI” calls to 911 when we see people driving with cell phones? :-)
CathyH
August 27th, 2009
12:36 pm
I would definitely show this to my kids. It’s disturbing to see how people in the video get tossed around in the car, and to imagine myself or my kids in that situation. Definitely a wake up call. I have had a close call while using my GPS and driving at the same time. Entering an address on the GPS is like texting on the cell phone. I will never do that again. From now on I will get off the road before picking up my GPS.
Barbi
August 27th, 2009
1:28 pm
Wow….i heard about this video and never saw it until now. My 19 year old niece was in a car accident two days ago and her and her friend were sent to hospital….one air flighted. It was a huge eye opener to me. There was speculation that my niece could have been texting but my sister knew that wasn’t the case since she showed her this video just last week. Yup…..my niece swore she wouldnt text and drive. When her phone was recovered from the destroyed vehicle it was about the only thing that was in good condition. It revealed that no calls went in our out or text’s during the time of the accident. Way to go to my niece. I’m thankful that i watched it and if my daughter was a teenager i would want her to see it. Sad but hey it’s reality.
JJ
August 27th, 2009
1:47 pm
Is anybody interested in a recipe exchange for our Friday topic? I know we touched on a few yesterday, but I need some new ideas…….I bet Stan has some great ones.
nurse&mother
August 27th, 2009
1:55 pm
If one of you goofballs runs over a member of my family (while on the phone or texting), I will try to nail you to the cross (just like I would if you were DUI). It is neglegence pure and simple.
I will apologize for the abrasive tone (just feel pretty strong about the topic).
I just wonder how many accidents have to occur before our state legislators make it illegal to use cell phones while driving?
DB
August 27th, 2009
1:56 pm
I checked out Stan’s blog — yummy bolognese sauce! But isn’t there already an AJC blog that deals with that? Evening Edge?
DB
August 27th, 2009
2:04 pm
My daughter had a “bumper” accident last year off of Ga 316 — the car in front of her stopped suddenly and she wasn’t maintaining a safe following distance. No harm to either car, but I thought it was ironic/funny that when my daughter sprang out of the car to check the damage, the mom and the teenage boy driver in the car in front of her both sprang out and the mother started screaming at my daughter, “WERE YOU ON YOUR CELL PHONE!?!?!?! I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU WERE ON YOUR CELL PHONE!!!” My daughter was terrified — and no, she wasn’t. She dug her phone out of her pocketbook and offered it to the lady to check, and was exonerated – it wasn’t even turned on. But it definitely made an impression. :-) The mom calmed down quickly, and said that she had just been lecturing her son about cell phone use, and though it would be a really good object lesson if he was hit by a teen on a cell phone. As far as object lessons go, I think my daughter got far more out of it than her son did!
JJ
August 27th, 2009
2:39 pm
I have a friend who was teaching her 16 year old son to drive. He was driving, and she was in the passenger seat. She called me and asked if I would find directions to a particular place, and call her and give her the directions.
When I called her back, she gave the phone to her son (Who was driving on a learner’s license). I couldn’t believe it. I told him to give the phone back to his mom and I would give her the directions.
DB – Is Evening Edge a recipe swap, or one recipe per day?
Becky
August 27th, 2009
2:56 pm
JJ, yes I am interested in the topic..
nurse&mother..no need to apologize, I think we all feel that way..
DB..Funny story (after the fact)..Somehting like that happened to me several years ago with a wreck that I had..Yes, I hit her and she and her pasenger jumped out of the car yelling that their necks and backs were hurting..When the police officer arived and told her that it was her fault because she had made an illegal left turn in front of me, they were both healed right away..
JJ
August 27th, 2009
3:33 pm
I’m amazed at the number of people on their cell phones at 6:45 in the morning, as I drive to work. Who are these people talking to?
klind
August 27th, 2009
3:58 pm
Absolutely would show this to my kids!! Too violent? To graphic? Been paying attention to some of the movies out lately?…and what about some of those video games? much worse. Kids these days desire reality, what better way to give it to them. Life is reality – you only get one chance – DON’T SCREW IT UP!! Driving is serious business and anything can happen in just a split second.
Jessica
August 27th, 2009
4:20 pm
I agree with most of the comments — I would show my kids something like that when they approach driving age. Kids have really short attention spans, and a nice, polite PSA won’t stick with them. This might be disturbing enough to make them think twice before they text while driving.
bobbi
August 27th, 2009
4:30 pm
no i think it hit the spot show these stupid kid who think they know it all what can happed..
SureWould
August 27th, 2009
4:35 pm
Yeah, I would show teens this. It is time we stop white gloving our kids. I work in a Trauma ER, and have since I got out of school 6 years ago. The first pt I ever saw die was a 16 year old MVC–needless to say, it shocked me. Sadly, it is such a common occurance anymore, it has ceased to shock me–sadden, yes, but there is no longer a sense of shock. I see the results of this daily, and I think that kids need to see what the consequences of inattentive driving REALLY are–and this PSA certainly drives home a very realistic point!!
@DontTwive (Don't Tweet & Drive)
August 27th, 2009
4:50 pm
While the video is graphic, it is clear in its message. Life can change in one second, with one text. Most teens see movies more graphic than the video, and the movies don’t come with a life saving message. Show it to your kids, educate them on the dangers of ALL forms of distracted driving.
Follow on Twitter http://www.Twitter.com/DontTwive or check out the blog http://www.DontTwive.blogspot.com
deidre_NC
August 27th, 2009
5:19 pm
ok i finally got to watch the video…i have dial up at home so i watched it at the library…i know the first thing my daughter will say is that these kids were being so stupid..and they were…talking and acting like they were sitting at a party instead of driving down the road…they need to make a clip of a kid calmly driving-holding the phone down by the seat and texting while still watching the road…thats how my daughter (and most of her friends) text…they arent all laughing and carrying on etc….they are very calmly going about it….so to show a person who doesnt act all crazy and stupid while driving ones that are defeats the purpose for most teens…every teen i know i can hear saying…well we dont act like that when we drive….its just like my daughters friend who was killed in the high speed wreck…they all say well we dont go 100 mph…
MomsRule
August 27th, 2009
6:01 pm
Here’s a different reaction to the video. I just showed the video to my 13 year old son. I did not get the reaction I was expecting. He laughed. The boy actually laughed. He thought the acting and the special affects were “cheesy”. When I scolded him for laughing he said, “Mom, I get the message, but the film is awful, I can’t help but laugh.”
And before everyone jumps on the bandwagon that he’s been exposed to an excessive amount of violent TV, movies, video games. That is not the case. Every thing has been monitored and limited. He never even saw a cartoon or even a Disney movie until he was 3. So…go figure.
Laurie
August 27th, 2009
7:48 pm
Violent, yes. But these things happen every day in life to thousands of people. Children don’t realize how far-reaching the effects of a bad decision can be–2 other cars were involved–innocent people and children died. I could really see this scenario happening. This PSA wasn’t as violent as the graphic sex and violence found in R-rated movies parents allow their teens to see. I think it would do more good than harm. I also think that ADULTS NEED TO SEE THIS TOO! We are not immune to this either.