October 2nd, 2008
Texting? Pull Over ...
So, it looks official. The train engineer who never slowed down before ramming his commuter train into a freight train in California was indeed sending text messages right up to the time of the crash.
That’s bad enough. Twenty-five people died and 135 were injured in the worst train wreck in 15 years.
But, you have to believe that more people — particularly young ones — are dying from texting. Not in trains, but in cars.
It’s the young who think driving and texting mix. One recent study found that almost half of US motorists aged 18 to 24 years old have sent text-based messages while on the road. In the United Kingdom, 37% are texting while driving.
This is worse than drinking or smoking pot while driving. According to research in the United Kingdom, texting while driving slowed reactions by 35%. Pot? 22%. Drink? 12%. So we’re supposed to take comfort that driving while drinking … ain’t so bad?
Here’s one mother’s poignant recounting of the fatal effects of texting while driving. The key part: All the photos of young people who have died as a result. This is a train wreck in itself.
Bicyclists are dying. Innocent youngsters are dying. One by one. But it adds up.
Maybe it took the death of 16-year-old Kayla Preuss in Highland, Calif., in August to seal the deal, but at least in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger has at least signed a ban into effect.
But laws can only do so much. At some point, you have to use your head.
To look ahead.
In the United Kingdom, they’re now putting wrappers around streetpoles, because one in 10 Brits injure themselves walking while texting.
If you’re a train engineer, a driver or a walker, pull over. Texting is not a mobile activity.
Tom Steinert-Threlkeld is editor-in-chief of Securities Industry News, as well as a long-time media, technology and business journalist. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 10/02/08
