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Today's Poll!Campaign targets texting, driving
“The Last Text” has been released by AT&T and features stories about people whose lives were adversely affected by texting while driving. (Watch the video below.)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Jefferson City Police Department hopes citizens will take time to view a new video which they believe shows the dangers of texting while driving.
(Story continues below)
“The Last Text” has been released by AT&T and features stories about people whose lives were adversely affected by texting while driving.
“While I’m generally very hesitant to send out e-mails on videos like these, this is probably the most real and honest video about what happens due to texting while driving,” said JCPD Capt. Doug Shoemaker. “These are real stories, and I think anyone, unfortunately, can relate, and it does it without gore.”
The video is being distributed to schools, safety organizations and government agencies.
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Comments
jcdancemom 2 years, 4 months ago
I can only hope this makes a difference. I can't tell you how many people...teens and adults alike...I pass or end up at a stoplight next to who are texting or reading texts while they drive. As much as I want my girls to have their phones on them when they are gone...the one new rule we now have is when they start driving in a year...phones stay home.
local4 2 years, 4 months ago
I would want my children to have their phones on them in case of an emergency, but would really press the subject of not texting while driving. There are ways to make sure they are not doing this. You can view your cell phone usage online to make sure there was no activity during a time when you KNOW they were driving. I am feel very strongly about not texting while driving. It is way too dangerous.
jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago
What is wrong with checking it at a stoplight? I often wait to respond to a text until I am safely at a stoplight at least. Don't see the big deal on that one.
jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago
Um.. if I'm STOPPED at a STOPlight then I'm not driving...I'm sitting still. I think i'm mature enough to sit still and punch some buttons at the same time as watching for the light to turn green.
nunyabidness 2 years, 4 months ago
You are sitting behind the wheel of a running vehicle with your foot on the pedals. You are driving. I don't care if you're moving or not. If you are not prepared to pay attention the entire time you're in the car, then I don't want to share the road with you. That text will wait until you get to where you're going.
bluesfan13 2 years, 4 months ago
jeffcitygirl ---Um.. if I'm STOPPED at a STOPlight then I'm not driving...I'm sitting still. I think i'm mature enough to sit still and punch some buttons at the same time as watching for the light to turn green.---
Try using that argument if you're drunk too and see what happens.
jeffcitygirl 2 years, 4 months ago
Big difference between drunk and sober texting when the vehicle is not in motion. Seriously, you all sound like nervous nellys who drive 5 miles under with two white knuckle death grips on your steering wheel, eyes open super wide, no radio, no passengers, If you can't function at a normal level and still be a good vigilant driver, then maybe you are the ones who shouldn't be driving.
bluesfan13 2 years, 4 months ago
How so?
You're stopped at a light texting, the light turns green and you take off. BAM!, you get t-boned by the car running the light that you didn't see because you weren't paying attention to traffic flow while you were texting. Yes, technically the accident wasn't your fault, but you easily could have prevented it by not texting.
farmgirl16 2 years, 4 months ago
Good one
mommyof2 2 years, 4 months ago
I have so many emotions.... mad, sad, sick..... People, cars are for driving... they are not a phonebooth or computer on 4 wheeles. Pay attention and DRIVE so I don't have to worry about YOU answering a text and killing me or my family.
JCLifer 2 years, 4 months ago
I would rather that kids 21 and under be allowed to text while driving than adults texting while driving. However, the Legislature thinks it is OK for clumsy adults to text, but not the kids?
This state is goofy.
MK 2 years, 4 months ago
I agree with you jeffcitygirl.
We can't regulate everything. Some people know their limitations and should be trusted to adhere to them. They have a huge stake in their action, their lives.
If you are stopped at a stoplight, go ahead and glance at your text if you want to. It takes no more of a glance than someone changing their radio station or handing a juicebox to their child in the back seat. If you are out moving around, show caution and respect your life as well as others on the road.
The way to handle this potential dangers is exactly what they are trying to do through the video and some sound unbiased education on the matter. Blanket laws and restrictions with the threat of punishment aren't the way to treat victimless actions. If someone hurts another and its proved to be due to their texting, than deal with it accordingly. Punishing everyone for it is wrong in my opinion.
bluesfan13 2 years, 4 months ago
MK --We can't regulate everything. Some people know their limitations and should be trusted to adhere to them. They have a huge stake in their action, their lives.--
98% of the population thinks that they are in the 2% that are "responsible enough to text while behind the wheel."
nunyabidness 2 years, 4 months ago
"If someone hurts another and its proved to be due to their texting, than deal with it accordingly."
You can't advocate enforcing a law that you don't advocate passing. It's hard to enforce a law that doesn't exist.
farmgirl16 2 years, 4 months ago
It doesn't matter whether or not they hurt someone THAT TIME. There is still the potential danger for them to hurt someone eventually. That's like saying drunk drivers shouldn't be punished as long as they don't getin/cause a wreck. Some of the things people use to justify their wrongdoings......... Bottom Line: YOU CAN KILL SOMEONE! Do you really want that haunting you?
Bucky 2 years, 4 months ago
I had an incident recently where a young woman ran a red light while I was entering the intersection (with a green light). We missed by a few inches and i could see her texting (or dialing her cell) as she went by. She never even knew what she had done and I was too busy avoiding her to honk. She just drove on, oblivious to how close we came.
It is very irresponsible to text and drive. As bad as drunk driving, in my opinion.
wcywing 2 years, 4 months ago
people don't have common sense. i don't drive and text, i don't even talk on the cellphone while driving. informing the dangers of texting/driving on youtube is a good idea
CVPI 2 years, 4 months ago
The ignorance of most parents and readers of this article is shocking. Did any of you stop to consider that if a person is under the age of 18, they legally cannot bind into a cell phone contract? With that said, who is paying the bill? The parents/grandparents/guardians. If everyone was as concerned as implied, then take text messaging off the contract period. If it's not there to be used, then guess what, it can't be used. Wise up mid-Missourians. Doing a lot of things while in a vehicle (moving or not) is dangerous but good "role models" are not in place either. You do not realize how many times I've seen police officers for example, texting, talking, using the pc, eating, etc, etc, while driving around town or at higher rates of speed on the freeway. This is not a "single" problem but rather multiple.
bluesfan13 2 years, 4 months ago
Actually CVPI, the safer alternative would be to not allow them to drive. If you take away texting, they can still cause an accident while driving. If you take away driving, it's pretty hard for them to cause an accident from texting.
emmybea 2 years, 4 months ago
There is a law that covers texting/talking on a cell phone(excluding handsfree),eating,ect. while driving. It is called careless & reckless driving!!!! People need to understand that driving is not a priviledge, but a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. A vehicle is a machine that can take lives in a heartbeat and should be treated as such. While driving, a person should have both hands on the steering wheel and their attention on the road and other drivers only!!!! If more people would adhere to this type of driving our roads and highways would be much safer.
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