What to Do When You See Someone Texting and Driving
July 02, 2013From Consumer Reports:
"We see it all the time. A car swerving on the road, cutting people off, the driver oblivious to the danger they are causing. Is there something you can do? Yes, drivers should speak up to ensure their safety.
We spoke with Lieutenant J. Paul Vance from the Connecticut State Police for some tips on how you can report an incident before it becomes a tragedy.
If you see someone driving recklessly--whether it be from texting, drunk or drowsy driving, being overly aggressive, or otherwise careless driving--report it by calling 911. But only call if you feel it's a dangerous situation. Remember, the 911 system is intended to render urgent assistance in true emergencies. "911 should not be used for simple motor vehicle violations. The driving behavior must be a danger to the public and place people in harm's way," says Vance.
If you do call 911, pull over and tell them your location, description of the driver and their direction of travel. Don't attempt to follow the car, nor shoot a cell-phone picture, as these actions may magnify the potential roadway dangers. In fact, because you have identified this driver as a threat, be sure to exercise caution and maintain a safe distance from their vehicle.
The license plate number, state of origin, vehicle make, model, and color are also helpful for police to find the offender. Vance notes that by calling 911, you are a witness if a case ever were to come to trial. Before any action can be taken, a witness or police need to observe a violation.
Cell phone use, and in particular texting while driving, has contributed to a national driving-while-distracted epidemic, with over 3,000 people killed and over 387,000 injured each year. Safety experts and government officials caution that the number is likely under reported.
Remember, no text or call is worth a life. Pull over or wait until you are safely at your destination to communicate. If you must stay connected while in motion, use hands-free technologies, such as speaker phone or Bluetooth connectivity, or task a passenger with this duty."
—Liza Barth, Consumer Reports
As always, ORIGO™ asks…
Why would we allow other drivers to endanger our lives over a meaningless text? When you text behind the wheel, you are sending more than one message. Yes, in addition to your shorthand banter with a friend, you are communicating the following to everyone around you: “The conversation I am having on my cell phone is more important to me than my life, my passengers’ lives, and yours.”
Pretty rude, right?
It is, but texting and driving isn’t just rude. And it’s not just careless. It is an absolutely reckless behavior that needs to stop, before more lives are lost.
Evidently, laws, campaigns, and pledges aren’t enough to stop it. There is no doubt these measures do help, but without something in place to keep drivers from texting, they will continue to do it, regardless of its illegality or their knowledge of the risks involved.
This is why we at ORIGO™ created the ORIGOSafe™, a simple, yet comprehensive solution that removes the phone from a driver’s hands completely, while allowing the hands-free communication that is a necessity for many drivers.
Learn about our solution today, and find out how easy it is to install ORIGOSafe™ in all of your family’s vehicles to initiate the change that will save lives.
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Texting While Driving
Drivers should always be responsible while they are hitting the road because danger is unpredictable. The Department of Transportation, among other bodies and the public at large, is worried about texting while driving, which is really dangerous. Most states have texting while driving laws which stop it, but the DOT has thrown $550,000 toward researching whether such laws have an impact.