The estimated reading time for this post is 5 minutes
Autumn is the season of the harvest, beautiful fall foliage, pumpkins and new cell phones. With three new iPhones and lots of new Android phones being released this season, plenty of people will be investing in the latest and greatest models.
But we should also take a moment or two to consider how we are using these phones. What we regards as a fun and useful tech tool can also be the source of danger. As with any tool, its power is in how you use it.
A documentary film called It’s People Like Us was released last week that deals with the often fatal issue of distracted driving.
The filmmakers followed five young Australians as they drove around Victoria with cameras in their cars for three weeks this summer. The cameras recorded how much these people use their phones while their driving.
You might think that having a camera in their cars might make these drivers think twice about using their phones while driving.
But you would be wrong.
The director of the film, Eva Orner, is an Academy and Emmy award winner who focuses on social issues. She informs us in the documentary that we check our phone on average 150 times throughout each day.
But then she questions whether we are letting these phones intrude into our lives too much.”The documentary aims to get us all to stop, think and discuss the places where we should and shouldn’t use our phones.”
The film is terrifying, both in watching these people drive while looking at their phones and in hearing their attitudes about what they’re doing. Some are in denial about using their phones frequently when driving. All are in denial about the effect that using their phones has on their driving.
One woman, Belle, is shown frequently using her phone while driving, even though her baby daughter is in the back seat of her car. “I don’t have the time to stop and pick up a call. I don’t have time to stop and send a text message. It’s just so much easier.”
Another woman, Karla, complains that her friends are upset that she uses her phone while she drives. “My friends freak out. They always say, ‘Get off your phone!’ and I’m like, ‘Did you die? You didn’t die, it’s okay.'”
A child’s car seat can be seen in the back seat of her car.
Geoff, another driver, rationalizes, “To the extent that I use my phone, I don’t think I’m being very dangerous.” Nicole claims she doesn’t use her phone while the car is moving, but then is shown using the phone, including taking selfies, while the car is moving.
In case you think this is only a problem with young people, the film not only follows the five drivers, it also shows other people of a variety of ages who are checking their phones while driving.
The clear message is that our roads are unsafe and we need to change this.
The full film can be watched at the It’s People Like Us website where you can learn more about the film the dangers of distracted driving.
The film is only 22 minutes long and it is worth watching and sharing with others.
What’s It Going to Take?
Banning distracted driving isn’t enough to eliminate the problem. Texting while driving is illegal in Australia. 47 states in the US, as well as D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have laws against distracted driving and ban text messaging for all drivers. And people know texting while driving is illegal.
Doug Fryer, Assistant Commissioner, Road Policing, Victoria Police, was interviewed by the filmmakers. “I can say without a doubt everyone knows that it’s illegal to use that mobile phone while the vehicle is in motion. Everyone knows it. Every time we catch people they know that they’ve done the wrong thing and they put their hand up and say, ‘You’ve got me.'”
https://youtu.be/0LDNMgK16fA
Commissioner Fryer explains, “This isn’t a sport. People’s lives depend on it. All you need is one pedestrian, one child to walk out on the road and you have a fatality and a person who has to live with that for the rest of their life.”
What Happened to Karla
Karla abruptly realized the dangers of distracted driving after filming of the documentary was completed. A friend of hers was riding a motorbike when he was involved in a serious accident caused by distracted drivers.
He sustained severe injuries, including physical and mental trauma, that changed his life forever. Karla now has seen first-hand the consequences of driving while on the phone. “I’m now scared to be on the road with people who are text-driving.”
A short film about Karla’s experience is also on the It’s People Like Us website.
Ways to Avoid Temptation
We can help prevent distracted driving by avoiding the temptation of looking at our phones. Keep your phone in the back seat where you cannot reach it. Even better, put it in the trunk of your car.
Power off your phone when you get in the car to eliminate temptation. You’ll avoid distractions and save battery life.
Chances are, whatever is going on can wait until you arrive at your destination.
Do Not Disturb While Driving
Last week, Apple released iOS 11, the latest update to its mobile operating system. Do Not Disturb While Driving is a new setting that helps eliminate the temptation to glance at your phone when you’re on the road by keeping the screen dark and blocking notifications.
Learn more about Do Not Disturb While Driving at => 12 New Features in iOS 11 That Will Make You Want to Update Now.
Also see, Green Bot The best Android apps to prevent distracted driving.
Your Thoughts
Is distracted driving is a problem on the roads where you live? Do you use your phone when you drive? Have you watched It’s People Like Us? How do you think people can become more aware of the dangers of distracted driving?
Share your thought in the Comments section below!
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*Image of phone in car (edited) courtesy of StockSnap via Pixabay
**Images of Belle, Karla, Geoff, Nicole provided by It’s People Like Us
Until now, I have only lived in cities that have banned handheld devices while driving, until I moved to Massachusetts 3 years ago. Their only law on the books as of 2010 is to ban texting while driving for all, and handheld devices for 18-22 yos. Some have been relentless in stating that is not far enough for the Commonwealth, which I applaud. As a family without a permanent car, we observe too often drivers talking on their phone who drive through a pedestrian cross walk without any turn of their head to check their peripheral. I never hear the case from drivers who want to continue to drive holding some device, why they consider their option safer. No. They pivot to ‘government imposing on them, or where are the statistics.’ Tell that to families affected more seriously and some fatally by a distracted drive. I am in awe of their patience especially here in MA waiting for legislators to change course. The update from MA is that the MA Senate this past summer (2017) approved legislation that would make the state’s drivers refrain from talking or texting on a cell phone while driving. Drivers would only be allowed to talk on a cell phone if they are using hands-free technology. The proposal, S.2093, passed the state’s Senate on a voice vote. As of mid-August, it must still be passed by the Massachusetts House and signed by Governor Charlie Baker to become law. Stay tuned !
Hi Jodi, Thank you for your insightful and informative comment! As a mother of a daughter who is attending college in Massachusetts, I truly hope this bill passes. I also hope that if the bill becomes law that it will be enforced.
As this documentary shows, there clearly needs to be a change in mindset about the dangers of distracted driving. Thank you for helping to bring attention to this important issue, Jodi.