While browsing through the White House blog (did you know the White House has a blog?) I came across this Distracted Driving issue/problem.
This problem has become so big that last November Webster's New World Dictionary announced 'distracted driving' as their 2009 Word of the Year.
This problem has become so big that last November Webster's New World Dictionary announced 'distracted driving' as their 2009 Word of the Year.
Go over to the government new site - Distraction.gov
- Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured. (NHTSA)
- The worst offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers: men and women under 20 years of age. (NHTSA)
- Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
Here's a PSA video they made to alert us of this problem.
So this last Friday was Elvis's birthday. He would have been 75 I heard. This got me thinking of a popular song of his and how it could be used as a PSA.
Here's my version called 'Distracted Minds' (played to his hit 'Suspicious Minds'.
We're caught in a trap
I can't drive back
Because I text you
too much baby
Why can't you see
where you're driving to be
When you reply to every
text I send
We can't go on together
with distracted minds
And we can't drive our cars
on distracted minds
So if car ahead is slow
will you lose control
Would I still see distraction
in your eyes
Here we go again
texting where I've been
You can't see these curves
are real
I'm driving
We can't go on together
with distracted minds
And we can't drive our cars
on distracted minds
oh let our drive survive
or take the texts from your eyes
just don't let a good thing die
and honey you know
I can't drive back
Because I text you
too much baby
Why can't you see
where you're driving to be
When you reply to every
text I send
We can't go on together
with distracted minds
And we can't drive our cars
on distracted minds
So if car ahead is slow
will you lose control
Would I still see distraction
in your eyes
Here we go again
texting where I've been
You can't see these curves
are real
I'm driving
We can't go on together
with distracted minds
And we can't drive our cars
on distracted minds
oh let our drive survive
or take the texts from your eyes
just don't let a good thing die
and honey you know
I've never lied to you
One more thing recently I heard of the following bumper sticker:
Honk if you love Jesus text if you want to meet him
21 comments:
It is a criminal offence to use a handheld mopho or similar device whilst driving in britland. A law broken by about half the nation every day!
Love the bumper sticker!
Wow lisleman, America's Got Talent!
The biggest problem is those driving texters/callers take out other people with them when they crash.
Often, when I'm in the front passenger seat, I take photos of oncoming cars (I love digital - I can just shoot away at anything), ... you won't believe how many pics I have of distracted drivers; they're either talking on mobile phones or talking and looking at their passengers - at the point of passing an oncoming vehicle ... it's crazy ...
@dave h - I think the reason I even found this info was because of new texting while driving laws over here. We do seem to do things in a patchwork type of way (States rights and all that). Some places will ticket for just talking without hands-free other place no restrictions.
@ocean girl - thanks my talent needs to be developed
@secret agent woman - yeah similar to the drunk driver accidents the drunks seem to survive more often.
@onestonedcrow - sure glad you said passenger seat. So mobiles are big in Namibia. Did it go from scarce phone service to an abundant supply of mobile phones. We always had plenty of public payphones but now those are scarce.
That bumper sticker is hysterical! I'd have been distracted driving if I'd seen it :-)
HAve a great week.
Most people are not good drivers to begin with,(IMO) so put a device in their hands that takes their attention off of the road and we've got trouble. When people call me when I'm driving, I usually tell them that I'll call them back.
Thanks for your comment! I totally agree with you.
Green-Eyed Momster
Those statistics are awful although I wish that someone would start spreading the word in this part of the world. Here it is still unheard of for people to wear seatbelts, mobile phones appear to be a must whilst driving and it seems that a car journey is not a car journey unless you have twenty kids jumping around the back seat with two in the front on your wifes knee - SCARY!
I love that bumper sticker!! too funny;-)
@JJ - thanks - bumper stickers should only be read while stopped but I guess that happens alot in LA.
@greeneyed momster - good to hear that you think about your situation with cellphone calls. I wish more people thought about the situation around them at the moment.
@eternally distracted - Your comment is even more interesting given you blogger name. Well the distracted moments hopefully are not while actively driving.
@flying pinto - the bumper sticker looks like a winner - maybe I should try selling some
Hilarious! You should go here:
http://ifevolutionworks.com/im-not-advocating-illegal-things/
and leave her a link to your post. She needs to read this. You'll see why after you read her post.
@unknown m - you were right that's good post about this problem. I stopped over there for some intervention time.
Is this an intervention???? Maria Shriver should read this post too!
And today I was a good girl. Threw m phone in the back seat, with the sound OFF so that I could see/hear/get to it.
@nancy - I'm glad you visited and shared a comment. Maybe we should start distracted drivers anonymous. So the first lady of CA needs some help with this? I didn't know.
I don't answer my cell phone if it rings while I am driving. I don't feel that I pay attention if I am on the phone. I see people on the cell talking while driving but I sure do not know how anyone could text while DRIVING. Great bumper sticker by the way.
@technobabe - thanks for sharing that and driving that way. I will not answer or make calls if the traffic situation is tricky but I do talk on it if traffic is calm and moving along
Love the song! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leading me back to yours. Funny stuff!!
@maria - thanks for sharing a visit and comment. I hope you get some time to look around my blog I've been at it for awhile.
Great blog!
And I enjoyed the song.
It's a very humorous look at a very serious problem.
Thanks!
Peace ~ Rene
@not the r-- thanks for sharing a comment and compliment. You also have a great blog.
I love that bumper sticker!! too funny;-)
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