Comments on: Graphic PSA Drives Home Dangers of Texting and Driving

By: metak8

metak8 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:30:58 +0000

It doesn’t go far enough…the driver survives, but we don’t get to see the decades of misery she will suffer from guilt and permanent injuries. It would be even better with a montage of the survivors’ unhappy future lives spent in wheelchairs or as bedridden, brain damaged financial burdens. I was half expecting the AFLAC duck to appear since this video could easily be used to promote disability insurance too, although not mentioning the scary reality of disability insurance is not AFLAC’s style.

By: Elie

Elie — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:21:51 +0000

I bet some viewers would go like: “these dumb girls! That would never happen to me” and continue texting and driving till they realize that they are as dumb as these girls i.e. get killed or injured in a car accident.

By: christine davis

christine davis — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:49:23 +0000

i have talked to my daughter about this after you had a show on it and she did stop for the most part but now she is at it again, to her she thinks its a natural as adjusting the radio!!!
she is such a smart girl as is going places with her life, she is very well educated and graduated with honors went on to uu and graduated validictorian of her class.
she has now got a job in IN. and travels back and forth on the weekends. i txt to but i do not while driving. what has happened to common sense? im scared for her, i dont want her to feel the pain of what could happen to her or someone else. i sure wish you would call her on her phone and tell her a one min. phone call from you could and would make a difference in her life.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:01:30 +0000

I see that the common response is to talk about “today’s kids!” and how “they need to see!” I am 19 years old and will be entering college soon, and I suppose that I am probably on the older age range of who this ad is targeting.
However, let me try to offer some perspective from someone my age, and how I think it would be taken.
Firstly, recall the D.A.R.E program? I remember it as graphic videos, where essentially some young girl/boy would try marijuana (”I heard it was bad!” “No, it’s cool!” “Okay!”), and in a terribly chain of events she shared marijuana with her friends, then tried cocaine, then soon she was trading her grandma’s heirloom necklace to some sleazy dealer for crack. Pan out as she lays dead on her bed. According to Time Magazine, as well as studies of kids who were exposed to the D.A.R.E program, kids do not react well to hyperbole, nor such a condescending “just say no” message. Kids exposed to the D.A.R.E. program, according to studies, had lower self esteem and were no less likely to try smoking, drinking, or more illicit drugs.
However, while we are using anecdotes, I am one of “today’s kids,” and I think that there is an idea that we are overly desensitized to where we need these shock messages to understand. When I watched the drug videos, which were largely shock like this text psa, I was traumatized. I replayed the images in my head at night, couldn’t sleep, and was sick to my stomach during class. And I was probably the least likely at that point in my life of trying drugs/smoking/drinking. I didn’t want to go back to school. The video intensely disturbed me. Fast forward to high school and I was bitter, angry, didn’t respect the hyperbole feel good messages of adult figures, and smoked cigarettes, and drank occasionally.
Am I the person this is targeting? I have common sense – I shouldn’t drive and text, because I should be paying attention the road. I wouldn’t read and drive either.
The people that would be trumpeting this campaign while in high school, are the people that are most likely not going to text and drive anyway. Do I think that it would change anyone’s habits after seeing some gore, if they already text and drive? Probably not. Because they already know the risks – it’s dumb to text and drive, and car accidents can kill/maim. It is condescending to assume that teens can’t make the connection without a good ad filled with gore and tragedy.
I know whoever is responsible for this ad had their heart in the right place, but I think it is unnecessary and backwards. I hardly anticipate any other reaction from texting drivers (especially teenagers) than “Yup, that’s what a car accident looks like.”
The argument that if it helps one person not do it, than it’s worth it. I understand. But what about kids like me, and there must be more like me, who would have been traumatized, disturbed, and perhaps do more bad than good in our lives?

By: Kathy Miller

Kathy Miller — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:48:15 +0000

I don’t think it’s too much! I think it’s not enough! Being in the emergency medical field, sadly we have to deal with the aftermath of the events. If people would just think about what they are doing!! This public service annoucement was geared towards teenagers. While yes they do like to text, so do the adults. Telling teenagers to leave their phones at home is not the answer. I can’t tell you how many grown-ups I have seen doing the same thing. This and videos like it should be played for new drivers, regardless of age, before they are given a license. And if your still texting after seeing this video remember it’s not just you out there on the road it’s innocent people.

By: Dolores Troeller

Dolores Troeller — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:42:17 +0000

Why can’t we as civilians report someone we see texting or talking on the phone, (somewhat like a Citizens arrest) Just call in the license plate # and after 3 strikes you get a ticket in the mail… Good way to help with the National Deficit too. Isn’t it a citizens duty to come to the rescue of another who may be in danger? Well when someone’s texting or on their cell phone while driving isn’t anyone in their vicinity considered a person in danger.

By: Beth Norman

Beth Norman — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:23:40 +0000

I got hooked on your show when I was put off work for 2 1/2 years (during which time I got diagnosed with bipolar). I never missed an episode and now that I’m back to work, I tape your shows. Texting teens didn’t sound like an interesting topic the day you came on, but I gave it a 5 min chance. Boy did I learn that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover–I learned so much. Not thinking it pertained to my life, I was wrong. After watching the show, and the video, I told my grown children about your show and that told them that they better not text while driving.

My sister is a paediatrician and let me tell you, it is darn scary driving with her. She is on the interstate on the cell with another doctor, reaching into the back seat for a patient’s file, while steering with her knee. Then she proceeds to read through the file while talking on the phone. I swear that God is watching over her because she hasn’t been in an accident yet. Why, I can’t explain it. She even steered the wheel with her elbow once, when she was digging in her purse for her phone. With five children, I worry. I try to tell her what I learn from your shows, but she doesn’t seem to take the time to slow down.

By: Edna M Glenn

Edna M Glenn — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:10:03 +0000

That the message should be passed and went too far. The teen girls should not be
texting while driving is dangerous or they will dead or worse.
Every parent should take the cell phone away when the teenager is going to drive
the car. Leave the cell phones at home with your parents!

By: shannon

shannon — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:37:26 +0000

I am the mother of 3, 2 of whom are driving teenagers. Two years ago TODAY my daughter’s very good friend was killed on her way to school texting while driving, They had been friends and played soccer together since they were 5. When I received this vid the first thing I did was post it to FB then email it to my entire address book. I was an EMT in a past life and still have many friends who are firefighters/medics… Until you’ve seen the real destruction it is entirely too difficult to understand. I don’t believe this goes over the top at all. I think it should be required viewing prior to receiving a license. It’s real and it’s graphic just as that accident my daughter’s friend died in. People need to understand the impact of their irresponsibility.

RIP Erica, September 7, 2005
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/19/Sports/Still_with_them_in_sp.shtml

By: Jceeson

Jceeson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:08:52 +0000

Honestly now a days this has to be the way to get the message across!!! Too many people are doing this stupid selfish act! In Toronto, Canada where I am from it has become ( as of September 1st ) illegal to drive and text or talk on a cellphone at the same time! It should be like this everywhere. There shouldn’t even be a debate about it!!! Like you always say Dr. Phil “commen sense needs to make a comeback” Amen too that! God bless.