Texting While Driving PSA Causes Stir (VIDEO)

The danger caused by texting while behind the wheel is no joke, and as an extremely graphic PSA from the UK shows in almost unbearable detail, the results can be truly deadly. The more than 4-minute video, which shows a group of teenage girls getting into a head-on collision while the driver of the car text messages, has caused some strong reactions due to its graphic nature, with some people asking if it goes too far. For example, the PSA, apparently produced by the Gwent Police Department in Wales, shows the girls heads snapping back and forth violently as glass shatters and blood pours forth. While it is no doubt hard to watch at points, it certainly gets the point across.

Comments

[Elffington]

06:36 PM on 08/31/2009

Anyone remember "Wheels Of Tragedy" from the Sixties? A classic gory driver's ed film, (it's on YouTube) shown to us first-time drivers. No "actors". No "simulated head snaps," but the real deal ... real footage ... real accidents ... real death. PSA's work, if they're real.

[Crystal Harris]

03:21 PM on 08/27/2009

This video was awesome...it certainly gets the point out. I hope that everyone who drives see this video and realize how our actions of being distracted can cause such tragedy is someone else s. Very thought provoking..stay safe out there.

[Morris Kode]

05:02 AM on 08/27/2009

On talk radio in this neck of the woods, there was a big rumpus about the text crashing into cars video,

I don't think the video goes far enough but think the text on the phone screen is cute.

JG Ballard would be delighted - "...james my mate fancies u...x..." (The "J" stands for "James").

There would be bleeding bodies flying out of vehicles if I directed it - the 'people not wearing seat belts' angle - and half-empty bottles of liquor strewn about amongst the missing body parts - the 'give folks their money's worth' angle - and lots of flames and smoke - the 'blockbuster video' angle. After all, it's just a video and real life (and death) is way more ugly.

[MKAnthony]

02:18 AM on 08/27/2009

Powerful. We recently had a student who's best friend was texting while driving. She ended up in a coma for two weeks and is still relearning motor skills and regaining her speech. This is real. This happens. As a teacher and a person on the road with people texting, I hope this message gets out to *everyone* not just kids.

[jazzartkitty]

01:17 PM on 08/26/2009

Tragic and sad, we need this everyday to be shown in the US, I see idiots all over the place NOT PAYING ATTENTION to the road bc they are too busy with their f*king phones!

[jcause28]

12:37 PM on 08/26/2009

Hopefully the U.S. will make one just like this.

[jcause28]

01:08 PM on 08/26/2009

And I'll be honest, I have a habit of checking my phone too much while driving, and I'm an adult, for work and such. For the first time, I think I am going to change my behavior because of a PSA. I just hope it works for others just as well.

[EndangeredJackalope]

03:50 AM on 08/26/2009

I made my comment before reading the others -- didn't want to influence or dilute my thoughts.

I'm surprised and happy to see that every comment I saw was in support of this honest PSA.

If I could have made it any better, I would have left the pop music blaring throughout the emergency response, like in a real accident --- leaving it for the fireman to turn off, to communicate. The sad background music is a cinematic effect.. films aren't real, this is.

The length is its strength too, it doesn't fit into the predictable commercial template.. breaks the rhythm of show/commercial just like an accident jars the rhythm of your life.

[CitizenRob]

11:45 AM on 08/26/2009

There was an episode Buffy the Vampire Slayer where one of the character died (of natural causes) and the entire episode doesn't have music. It really added to the feeling of "life happening around you" while the character was going through something shocking and personal.

[EndangeredJackalope]

03:41 AM on 08/26/2009

That was great. It's dead honest, and that resonates with teenagers.

The scenes of bystanders, fire crew, other injured drivers, bloodied windshield, etc were the strongest. I was a teenager until very recently, and those scene would have brought me back to reality (out of the "me! me!" world of adolescence.) Reminds you that you live in a world with other people and that you're totally mortal. Andthat you are still a 'kid' and that you have responsibilities..

The scenes of the girl are really hard, but because of that maybe the easiest to dismiss ("that's not me.. she's an actor, its not real") The crash scene was truthful as well, intense. The scenes of emergency workers and bystanders helping, the young other driver's children were the best.. it showed real adults (responsible, measured, able) cleaning up their mess, without judgment, with true concern.

Kudos to the Gwent PD. The format is appropriate too. Young adults can view this of their own volition (online), which will make them more receptacle to it. If it's shown in health class or something, it might invite some "Just Say No"-esque distrust and eye-rolling, but it would be appropriate and smart.

[alexolife]

03:34 AM on 08/26/2009

Those neck-cracking sound effects are gold, and it's powerful that the protagonist lived while the damage she caused to others was emphasised. In real collisions at that speed, often the bodies are completely mangled between layers of metal, with heads "unrolled" inside out and whatnot. It's a shame that they can't get away with more gore. Emphasising the damage caused to friends and strangers is an important angle, but it'd be good if they could also touch on the very likely outcome of the driver/everyone else surviving hideously disfigured as well, rather than living fast/dying young and still leaving a beautiful corpse.

[mahdeealoo]

03:01 AM on 08/26/2009

I've seen cars careening around on the highway only to see the driver staring at their cell phones or even just speaking on it. Pull over if you have to take, make, or text a call. The life you save may be your own.

[kubera622008]

02:58 AM on 08/26/2009

Good for making this point. Texting is too common, and I'm glad a PSA is made about it. It is as serious as driving drunk. People die from it, and the deaths aren't clean and pretty. They can be more bloody than this. It is odd that the article tries to put a spin on it that some people 'think it went too far', or that it is 'contraversial'. I don't believe that for a minute. High school driving school (years ago) showed a far more graphic clip of drunk driving that kept me in the straight all my life. I hope this PSA does the same to those who text.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

02:53 AM on 08/26/2009

It definitely gets your attention. Powerful, and makes you think (which I guess is the whole purpose of a PSA)

[baronvonvoltron]

02:12 AM on 08/26/2009

to tell you the truth, i think the "squishy" noises are a bit much. it takes away from what is otherwise a very disturbing and powerful PSA.

[webwriter]

01:38 PM on 08/26/2009

Just hope you never hear those "squishy" noises up close and personal.

[Margo Redd]

02:10 AM on 08/26/2009

What a GREAT message about Texting while Driving a car...and NO! It is not too graphic.
It needs to be shown in USA in maybe a briefer form of 2 minutes rather than the 4 in UK.

[Tex1969]

01:59 AM on 08/26/2009

Car accidents aren't pretty. They can destroy peoples lives. This video is totally appropriate.
I hope it makes the rounds here.