A very unfortunate story has been circulating the last few days regarding an incident in which a gunman (see image) on a San Francisco train shot and killed (seemingly at random), another passenger standing right next to him.
The tragedy is only compounded by the fact that there is a possibility that it could have been prevented, had only one of the many passengers surrounding the gunman on the crowded bus been paying attention to their surroundings. Disturbing security footage from the bus shows that the gunman “pulled out a .45-caliber pistol, raised it, pointed it across the aisle, put it down and continued to pull it out multiple times, even wiping his nose with the handgun.”(Huffington Post).
This incident is evidence of just how addicted we have become to our mobile devices: we are so engrossed in what is happening on a screen that we are blind to extreme danger only inches away. Some will say “But that was only a freak occurrence, what are the odds of something bad happening to me?” Well, the odds of putting yourself in danger due to cell phone distraction are pretty good if you are one of the many people in the United States who continue to text and drive.
Sure, you might not get shot, but THOUSANDS of people die every year in collisions resulting from distracted driving, not to mention countless injuries that are sustained as well. This shooting may be an isolated incident, but danger due to cell phone distraction is as ubiquitous as the cell phone itself. Why would you let your phone stand between you and your safety? Let this serve as yet another somber reminder that letting your phone take so much of your attention that you lose awareness of your surroundings, even for an instant, can be a fatal mistake.
Too addicted to put the phone down while driving? Fear that a loved one might be? Install the ORIGOSafe™, a new device that requires you to dock your phone when you drive but still allows all handsfree use through Bluetooth, and stay both safe AND connected.
"If you are reading this review in a printed newspaper and do not stop midway to check emails, answer your cell phone, or send a text, then you may not need to read any further. If, however, you did any of those things, or if you are skimming the review online and pop-up ads or message notifications divert your attention or cause you to shift momentarily to another task, then Alex Pang’s new book may be precisely what you should read — and pronto if you are convinced you can manage those and other interruptions without negative repercussions.
A highly readable yet substantive examination of our relationship with all forms of computerized activity, “The Distraction Addiction” combines solid research, anecdotal evidence, and refreshing humor to identify a growing problem. Statistics show that Americans spend four to six months a year emailing, texting, checking Facebook, shopping on line, and playing computer games. Pang acknowledges there is disagreement over what constitutes a true addiction, but he identifies specific signs that you may have a problem: email apnea (holding your breath unconsciously before checking messages), phantom cell phone syndrome (imagining your cell phone vibrator is going off) and severe withdrawal symptoms if you try to take a digital Sabbath (unplugging everything for a day).
And what about the effects on our work? We are persuaded that ever more sophisticated timesaving devices help us multi-task; however, we are more often engaged in what Pang calls switch-tasking, a behavior that divides our attention among competing and often insignificant goals. This interrupts flow, wastes time, and makes our relationships with both our devices and our colleagues unproductive and unsatisfying — not to mention those with family and friends.
The key to improvement is contemplative computing, which Pang allows sounds like an oxymoron. But he carefully describes what it is, how to do it, and how it helps develop human mastery over the digital world rather than the other way around. His approach is multifaceted, recommending remarkably traditional methods often used for breaking any bad habit: documenting counterproductive patterns and identifying barriers that interfere with finding better ones; setting boundaries and limits; and relying on social relationships separate from the digital world for sources of engagement and fun. His advice is scholarly yet never pretentious or condescending, as he freely admits his own tendencies toward cyber dependency. He shares advice from interesting and enthusiastic experts around the world, and explains how low-tech interventions such as meditation and mindfulness can be as effective as high-tech software programs that force one’s focus to a single narrow task or even shut down your Facebook or email access for pre-set, irreversible blocks of time.
It is interesting that the author chooses the term distraction addiction rather than technology or Internet addiction. Pang maintains that our brains are programmed to pay attention to and be infatuated with variety and change and to avoid boredom. It was adaptive in our early history to notice changes in our environment — our very survival depended on it. Now when our devices blink, buzz, or ping, we feel compelled to check them for fear of missing something important or being out of touch; we are afraid of being disconnected for even short periods. He compares our behavior to that of overly engaged parents with their children when commenting that “ our mobile devices act like toddlers: they’re super responsive, simultaneously eager to please and oppressively demanding, always on, and insistent that we pay attention to them.”
“The Distraction Addiction” proposes that it is not only possible but also necessary to disengage in a planned, meaningful way if we are to become more effective — and happier — participants in the technological world. Tech-savvy readers will enjoy Pang’s up-to-the-minute familiarity with the latest and greatest cyber developments. But there is a little something for everyone as Pang touches on history, psychology, philosophy, biology, and even theology as he makes his case for more contemplative computing. This entertaining and informative book is a good first step toward that end."
FROM APP.com:
"Is your teen driving back to school?
Exercise caution. New Jersey auto insurance group, Plymouth Rock Assurance recently released the results of a new distracted driving study providing insights from so-called Digital Natives, the first generation born into a digital world.
The online poll of 1,000 New Jersey-based drivers ages 17 through 25 found 73 percent had witnessed a friend texting while driving and 70 percent had witnessed a friend using a phone without hands-free technology.
The study also revealed that many young drivers are mimicking the behavior of their parents.
According to the results, 25 percent of young drivers have witnessed a parent texting while driving and 57 percent have witnessed a parent using a phone without hands-free technology.
Despite these behaviors, young drivers recognized the danger and cited texting while driving as one of the biggest safety problems on New Jersey’s roads.
According to the survey, 36 percent have attempted to alert the driver of another car to stop texting and 82 percent of respondents believe New Jersey should impose a heavy penalty for texting while driving.
“Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous issues currently affecting our roadways,” said Gerry Wilson, President and CEO of Plymouth Rock Management Company, Red Bank. “Years ago, motorists demanded an end to drunk driving. Our research demonstrates that even younger drivers are acknowledging that we must put an end to distracted driving.”"
Younger drivers overwhelmingly mark texting while driving as the most dangerous thing to do behind the wheel. Other major dangerous picks included drunk driving and talking on a cell phone while driving.
NYDaily News:
A new nationwide study, released by Driving-Tests.org reveals that teenage drivers are not only aware of the dangers involved with driving a motor vehicle, they are surprisingly insecure about their own limited ability to manage those risks.
What do teens and younger drivers think about the risks associated with driving? It's an interesting question, and it is one explored in a nationwide survey conducted by Driving-Tests.org.
Preliminary data compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that traffic fatalities among 16- and 17-year-old drivers increased by 19 percent during the first six months of 2012. However, other data shows that fewer teens are getting their driver's licenses. A study that was done by the University of Michigan notes that 30 years ago, eight in 10 Americans ages 17-19 had a driver's license. Today that number is six in 10.
Personally, I am of the generation that could not wait to drive. I lobbied relentlessly to get behind the wheel when I was 13-years old, with not great results. These days, my 16-year-old nephew in Ohio is not all that eager to get his learner's permit and some nieces and nephews didn't get their licenses until in their 20s, although living in New York City might have had something to do with that.
The survey was an online survey of open-ended questions with a 140-character limit that was completed by 1,421 participants. At least 75 percent of respondents were between the ages of 14 and 24; at least 50 percent of participants were female and at least 30 percent were male.
These responses come from those between the ages of 14 and 24. Driving-Tests.org was launched in 2010 and is owned by Elegant E-Learning, Inc., a software development company based in Canada.
When asked what they thought was the most dangerous thing to do when driving, 69 percent said texting; 8 percent said talking on a cellphone; and 9 percent said drinking and driving.
In terms of their biggest fears about driving, 33 percent mentioned being involved in an accident, crash or wreck; 20 percent said the unpredictability of, and interaction with, other drivers; 17 percent said parallel parking, turning, highways and driving around trucks; 7 percent cited injuring a passenger or killing another person; 5 percent said getting lost or feeling confused and another 5 percent said "dying."
But there were some aspects of driving that excited them and 28 percent said it was freedom and independence; 26 percent cited access to transportation; 14 percent said "I am not excited to drive, I am fearful;" and 10 percent mentioned getting to work, going to school and helping to transport family members.
Asked to identify the most challenging aspect of learning to drive, 35 percent said it was grasping advanced driving skills, such as highway driving, being around trucks, turning and parallel parking; 22 percent cited understanding the words and language on the driver's test; 14 percent said developing the right driving skills; and 15 percent it was feeling nervous and overcoming emotional pressure.
While parents are supposed to be role models and get involved with helping their children learn to drive, many of those surveyed witnessed some behaviors that should not be emulated.
When asked what was the most dangerous thing they had seen their parents do, 42 percent said it was texting; 19 percent said using a cellphone, 18 percent cited failure to focus on the road due to distractions such as applying makeup, smoking, adjusting controls or eating; 13 percent they witnessed safety violations, such as not wearing a seatbelt or driving with their knees; and 9 percent said their parents had engaged in aggressive driving. So, parents, just remember that you are being watched.
-- Cheryl Jensen, Motor Matters
ORIGO™'s friends at the National Organization of Youth Safety, one of the foremost purveyors of teen safety behind the wheel, will be hosting the Georgia Distracted Driving Conference on Sept. 14th at the Classic Center in Athens.
From Athens Banner-Herald:
"Youth throughout the state will gather for a day of presentations on the dangers of the road as well as creative ways to get youth involved in ending fatalities on the road.
The conference is free to attendees and is open to all high school students who live in Georgia.
Applications are available at www.surverymonkey.com/s/VFM8XFS .
For more information, email [email protected]."
Go out and make some NOYS about distracted driving!
Fall is just around the corner. Along with changes in the leaves, temperature, and sports come changes in driving: the days (which are growing shorter) are now punctuated by drop-offs and pick-ups of children whose classes are back in full swing, and that means we drivers need to be hyper-vigilant and focused on safety behind the wheel .
Here are a few things to be aware of as summer turns to autumn in order to prevent a collision. Some of these may seem obvious, but take them as a friendly reminder to help put you in the right mindset to stay safe and set a good example for other drivers this fall.
1. It gets darker, earlier. This one’s pretty self explanatory. The days are getting shorter, so your sunny summer drives to and from work are now at dawn and dusk, the most dangerous times to drive. The rising or setting sun can be blinding, and our eyes are in transition, adjusting for day or night. If you live in an area that is home to wildlife, be aware that nocturnal animals are still active at these times: keep an eye out for unexpected moving obstacles. Oh, and remember to turn your headlights on!
2. There are new traffic patterns left and right! Sporting events and parades mean road blocks, temporary crosswalks, and police officers directing traffic. Often these events are at night, and accompanied by signs and blinking lights. Drive slowly and be cautious in these areas, but also be aware of the not-so-regulated perimeters too, as event-goers cutting across parking lots or side roads can be very difficult to see. Parking can get a little hairy in these situations as well, so be mindful of cars parked perilously close to the road.
3. “School zone” speed limits are back. The long-dormant lights of the speed limit signs near schools in your area are blinking again, in most areas between 7:30-9:30 AM and again from 2-3:30 PM. That means a stretch of road that is usually 35-45 mph might at those times become 25 mph (or less). The combination of reduced speeds and lines of cars and buses turning into schools makes for a longer trip to work, so factor that into your departure time. It’s not worth a ticket, and certainly not worth endangering kids on their way to school.
4. New drivers are out in full force. “Look at this guy, what-did he learn to drive yesterday?!” Well, maybe he did. or today. In recent years, driver education classes have been introduced as elective courses at many schools across the country, so drive carefully and defensively around these new navigators who will inevitably be roving your streets. Everybody’s gotta learn sometime.
5. Roadside runners are around the corner. In many areas, school track teams train by jogging before and after school hours within a few miles of the school. Share the “track” with these young athletes- slow down as you pass them and give them some space.
6. Texting and driving is NEVER worth the risk. I can’t stress this one enough. Don’t ever read or send a text while driving, in the fall or any other time of year. Texting and driving, and other handheld cell phone use, are the number one cause of fatalities on our roads today. When you get in the car, put your cell phone away, or better yet, go for a solution like the ORIGOSafe™ to ensure that your family will never succumb to the temptation to text and drive.
Recently, ORIGO™ had the privilege of attending the Teen Driving Solutions School Course at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, VA.
We spent the day participating in closed-course driving simulations intended to equip drivers with the skills necessary to maintain control of a vehicle in dangerous situations on the road.
There were workshops, talks, and lots of great demonstrations with participation from teens and adults from all over. The weather was great and the energy and enthusiasm about safe driving decisions were even better!
TDSS offers these courses in order to not only educate teens on how to drive safely, but also to teach parents skills they may have never been taught or have forgotten. It also provides both teens and parents with the necessary skills to communicate more effectively with each other.
From TDSS website:
“Teen driving school instills positive driving habits and educates teens about road safety, all led by our expert instructors with decades of experience helping people become safer drivers. The class provides teens a mix of both hands-on behind-the-wheel training to improve vehicle control, and a class curriculum focused on mental skills. This includes teens learning to take personal responsibility every time they drive and how to improve decision-making on the road, the physics of safely controlling a vehicle in real life situations and mental habits that avoid distractions.”
Blog ORIGO™ sat down with Meg Smith, ORIGO™’s Teen Driving Expert, to talk about the course.
Blog ORIGO: How did you find out about the TDSS courses?
Meg: One of the benefits of working for a cause like ours is that you get to attend events where you have lots of likeminded people. I met Dan Wagner, founder and President of TDSS at one of those events. He told me about his organization, and we continued conversation over following weeks about how we could work together for our common goal of saving lives.
Blog ORIGO: So when you arrived, what was your first impression of the TDSS course?
Meg: Well, the first day on the track, it took some time for parents, teens, and instructors to get to know each other and break the ice, but we quickly became immersed in the learning experience together (and had a lot of fun too!)
The learning wasn’t just focused around being able to maneuver safely in a car; another main focus was helping the child and parent to build healthy communication. By the end of the first day it was clear that both parent and teen had learned how to more effectively communicate with one another, which is crucial in learning to drive!
Blog ORIGO: So I understand that ORIGO™ and TDSS have partnered up now?
Meg: Yes! We at ORIGO™ are excited to have recently joined forces with TDSS to combat distracted driving and save lives. ORIGO™ will be attending TDSS events in order to give parents and teens a fighting chance against distracted driving that plagues our roads today. We are so excited and can’t wait to work with them!
Check out the Teen Driving Solutions School website and sign up for their next course today!
Thanks again to Teen Driving Solutions School for offering these courses- your enthusiasm and the safe driving practices you share are surely saving lives!
Werner Herzog: veteran actor, producer, and director, has embarked on a new project- a documentary about the aftermath of texting and driving tragedies.
Reportedly inspired to create a longer-form 30 minute mini-documentary after directing a 30 second video for AT&T’s “It Can Wait” campaign, Herzog has just released From One Second to the Next.
Known for covering somber subject matter, Herzog explores the worlds of families whose loved ones have been injured or killed in distracted driving collisions.
The documentary serves as a harrowing reminder of just how quickly life can change from one second to the next, as the title suggests.
Remember, when you get behind the wheel of a car, put the phone away, or better yet, put it in your ORIGOSafe™ and know that you won’t make a mistake that will change your life or someone else’s over the course of a second.
Back in May, we at ORIGO™ had the privilege of installing an ORIGOSafe™ in a vehicle of esteemed Roanoke insurance company HSH at our ORIGO™ Certified Installer Workshop. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to cooperate with HSH to encourage safe driving in our community. HSH’s Safety and Risk Manager was very enthusiastic as the ORIGOSafe™ distracted driving solution was installed in his eye-catching HSH Dodge Charger (which bears a striking resemblance to a police car), and couldn’t wait to lead by example with safe driving habits through use of our solution. A big ORIGO™ thank you to HSH for your support, and for your complimentary blog post about ORIGO™! We look forward to seeing your ORIGO™-equipped “squad car” patrolling the streets of Roanoke!
From HSH Blog:
CarInsurance.org just posted this new infographic about the most deadly teen driving behaviors. These stats are enough to make you never want to get behind the wheel again. Fortunately, ORIGO™ is starting to put a dent in these numbers with our new solution, the ORIGOSafe™. If the phone is docked, it's not a distraction! Drive safe.