Consumer Thoughts

The very graphic accident re-enactment video about texting while driving is causing quite a controversy. As someone who was recently in a serious car accident (which was not caused by texting, but by a 17-year-old with no driver’s license and an expired permit whose parents chose to let him drive with 3 friends as passengers), my answer is that no, it does not go too far. Teenagers and others who text need to take driving seriously and know that they are in a multi-ton vehicle that has the power to kill in the blink of an eye.

A recent study shows that a texting driver is 23 times more likely to be in an accident. No one needs those odds, but teenagers or novice drivers especially don’t need additional distractions behind the wheel.

As teenagers gain confidence driving, they may feel like they can handle the multitasking, but it only takes a split second of inattention to seriously injure or kill someone.

I am in favor of all drivers seeing this video. If it can make them feel even a tiny bit of what I felt as an accident victim, then maybe it can save lives. Parents may say it is too graphic. Think how your child will feel if he/she is ever really in this situation, and turns to see his/her friend(s) severely injured or dead in the next seat. You may think it’s a horrible video, but it’s even more horrible to see your injuries and those of your passengers, to be cut out of your car using the jaws of life, placed on a backboard and taken to the hospital in an ambulance, and listen to your family – parents, spouse, children – cry on the phone when you call them.

Bottom line: If you’re old enough to drive, you’re old enough to see the potential consequences that may arise should you make bad choices while you drive.