Cesar Lopez

As technology advances, we become more dependent on great tools such as text messaging. Unfortunately, we don’t realize when it is time to control the urge to over-use this tool. In some cases, the consequences are fatal.

It begins with typical teens laughing loudly inside of a car. They are commenting about a text that they just received. Suddenly everything changes. The distraction of the driver makes the car go into a head-on collision with the driver from the opposite lane. Objects in the car along with broken glass are flying inside the car. The scene is so clear, pain and panic from the occupants of the car is as realistic as it can be.

The only survivor is the driver, who was the person texting. Not only did she cause the death of her friends, but also people in other cars that could not stop at the speed that they were driving. Then comes the voice of a girl asking her daddy to wake up as the camera shows the dad unconscious. The next image is just heart breaking, a baby who is six or seven months old not responding to the paramedics. The baby’s eyes are just open, without movement. The bloodied windshield shows paramedics in the background working to open her car.

While it is only a PSA, the dramatization is so real that it makes you think: What if I was the one texting while driving? What could happen to my kids and family? How about that baby that could have had all his or her life ahead of them but now is dead... It is important to mention that in countries such as England it is illegal to text while driving. Charges are made under “death by dangerous driving” and have a penalty of 2 to 7 years in prison.

I consider myself a person who embraces technology as a way to streamline our lives. However, after seeing this, even when my work requires me to be in constant communication, I never text while driving. Are you?

Here is the British video, but be advised it is quite graphic!

Graphic Credit:
Sabrina Segal