The other day I was driving my boys home from our morning activities and I came up on a car who was crossing into the lane I was in. Living in Las Vegas you never know when you will encounter a drunk driver, but this driver wasn’t drunk. When it seems safe I made my move to go past her, and found her with her phone up inches from her face texting. She was barely looking at the road! I have to be honest, it made me really mad! What text message was so important that she felt okay putting her life, and the lives of the other drivers on the road in danger?
Texting while driving is something I see ALL THE TIME while driving, and it is illegal in Las Vegas. But apparently the fine doesn’t deter a lot of people.
According to the site textinganddrivingsafty.com texting is really dangerous and is the cause of many car accidents. Did you know in 2011 that at least 23% of accidents involved a cell phone? That is 1.3 MILLION car crashes! Texting while driving also makes it over 23 times more likely to get into a car crash because texting takes your eyes off the road for a minimum of 5 seconds, and often longer!
This week the Consumer Electronic Show is in town. This is one of the largest conventions that comes to Las Vegas, and it focuses of all the new technology coming to the market. This year a lot of car companies are debuting cars with technology that scares me. Including internet services, in-car apps, and even behind the wheel video conferencing! Talk about distracted driving! Audi and Toyota even unveiled cars that drive themselves. While they don’t allow for full automated driving, they do add sensors that allow the car to react lane lines, other vehicles, and traffic signals that are supposed to help the driver avoid collisions. I wonder though if the lady who had her phone inches from her face texting and driving will see it as another opportunity to pay even less attention to the road.
The car makers are arguing that if they make everything hands free it will be safer for those who are already using these services in their cars. I, however, would much prefer an app that disables the ability to use my phone while driving, because even though it makes me so upset to see others texting while driving, I am guilty of checking my texts at a red light.
I don’t know about you but the thought of an automobile accident litigation process as a result of texting while driving is scary, but the thought of endangering my children and the lives of others for a simple text message just isn’t worth it to me.
What do you think about the new technology being introduced?
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by PersonalInjuryPersonalAnswers.com. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and my own!
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I don’t know, this is a tough one…
New technology is great but scares me at the same time!
I feel the same – I love new technology, I just don’t think we need FB in our cars.
It is scary. Texting and driving is illegal here too, but it still happens all of the time.
I can’t stand when people text while they’re driving, it’s so freaking annoying. Sadly, I see this everyday and I truly do wish that others would think first before sending a text message, as it’s not worth your life or those whom you may come in contact with.
Yes! I totally agree.
Sadly I think it will make for more distracted drivers.
I think it’s worse, some people are law abiding citizens and don’t text and drive or drive distracted, but I think this is just going to make it worse for people who can’t keep their eyes on the road because they are constantly on the phone or changing radio stations. I don’t drive, only my bf does. He doesn’t even touch the radio when he is in the car, and he will drive around aimlessly before he reaches to turn on the GPS while driving-especially in Vegas. He test drove a new car at a Car show last September, with a touch screen for a radio/telephone/whatever, and he HATED it. It was too distracting for him.
That is a great point!
personally, I cringe every time I see a new car gadget. I think buttons are much safer than a touch screen. I can blindly reach down and use my sense of feeling to turn on the radio, change the heat/air. Those new Ipad looking screens for cars, I wouldn’t be able to do that with. I would have to look down and scroll through to find the right control, and that would take my attention away from the driving. I just don’t like them at all.
I couldn’t agree more!
I love the technology, but I agree, an app that disable my phone would make more sense.
I don’t mind people checking at red lights. It’s when they are going 60-70 on the highway and putting the lives of my children in danger that bothers me.
Crystal – I hear you. But being distracted at red lights leads to people taking advantage of you. My brother was rear ended by someone who saw he was distracted and took advantage of it to make a quick buck. But yes, it makes me so upset every time I see it!
Texting while driving is illegal here too and it burns my toast when people do it.
Me too – I did chuckle at “burns my toast”! I haven’t heard that phrase in ages!! 🙂
I have an OLD cell phone and when I upgrage I will NOT be using it in a car. I’m distracted enough with my son and then adding that on top of it would be bad.
Yes! I hear you on the kid thing! So distracting already!
My oldest daughter turns 16 tomorrow and I am not looking forward to her getting a license.
Oh my goodness! I bet you are nervous! HUGS!! And Happy Birth Day to you!
I have mixed feelings about it. Cars will have to drive themselves soon since we are getting so busy as a society!
The law making texting and driving here in Las Vegas illegal seemed to do nothing since I see someone doing it at least once a day. Perhaps the punishment needs to be harsher?
I think disabling a phone completely would not be good b/c of possible phone call emergency but if there was a way to disable all functions besides phone that would be cool with me.
Technology will make our driving experience safer and will lessen the chance of getting an accident due to several alarms and gadgets to improve our driving. Some develops apps for mobile phones to avoid distraction such as those who will read your text messages while you’re driving. I guess, being a better driver depends solely on our attitude at road, it doesn’t depend on the technology itself.