US government launches Distraction.gov, wants to scare you straight (video)
By Vlad Savov 
posted January 1st 2010 4:02PM
posted January 1st 2010 4:02PM
posted January 1st 2010 4:02PM
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Obama says, "Stay alive. Don't talk and drive."
@Bosco
Haha, it would have been better if Obama was up there saying "visit distraction.gov", not some old over weight white haired politician. They did a horrible job trying to appeal to their target audience with said quote.
You'd better listen to Obama; he's COOL!
@Bosco
Everytime Obama talks, my taxes go up.
That phone dosent have a colour screen! strange
@OCEAN CLAK
Its the next generation of the S.E. Purity... only $2,000
@NAME Last time I checked, it was a Nokia.
@OCEAN CLAK
It's because that was the kind of phones available when the US Govt. should have been doing something about people using mobiles while driving, they've just taken that long.
Seems smart, cheap non-sellable phone in the car, won't get stolen and you can use it for calls (unlike the iphone I'm told)
Plus everybody uses their phone for navigation now it seems, meaning you need a second phone for calling.
@HighestRanked
So does your "first" post...
I would guess that the percentage of drivers who slow down when getting involved in a serious conversation nears 100%.
Listening to music or talk radio rarely causes most people to lose focus but once the driver is participating we get in trouble.
@bureX my first post is pure gold.
I am Highest Ranked after all.
but seriously now, you yanks are a bunch of pussies. if this is the best you can do to discourage joe sixpack from doing something detrimental, then no wonder half of you are morbidly obese.
this is how its done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHvgzXOwNU
@lebowski Engadget showed this a while back, its a bloody strong ad.
@lebowski
Did she manage to send it??!!
@lebowski
You name it.
@lebowski
us yanks don't like to be grossed out while eating!
@lebowski
An ad like this would be deemed too offensive in the US mostly because Americans are super concerned about sheltering their precious little children from reality. It's no wonder that when those kids grow up and have to face reality they are ill equipped to do so.
@MC Double Def DP Surely that'd be a double-wahmmy, two birds with one stone. /Joke
@(Unverified) In the UK the advertising standards authority specifically allow these kind of ads for safety concerns that would otherwise be banned for commercial purposes. I guess the principle is to shock the sh** out of you.
@lebowski The nanny state has gotten better about making its graphic warnings more real. I remember the farm and tractor one.
@lebowski
FULL VERSION!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDOmwjgKBcI
@lebowski
LOL, I can in fact confirm you should not text and drive in Wales..
We aren't banned from using phones, but we have to use hands-free kits when driving.
@d0mth0ma5
that my friend, DOES NOTHING, and there are studies that prove it. the danger isn't in holding the phone, it is in talking on it.
@lebowski Surely it does more than "nothing", obviously phone-calls cause distractions, same as having kids in the back or shouting at the radio during a football match. But every small step reduces the dangers until we drive in our solo-silent-pods...
@lebowski should they also place the passengers in a soundproof box so you cant talk to them while driving as well?
@d0mth0ma5
Why don't they include:
eating
drink
changing the radio station
talking to a passenger
hand jobs
GF's head/hand in lap
Looking at the time (you're late)
listening for that traffic report
looking at the rear view mirror
looking at the side view mirror
trying to understand stupid gov't signs for exiting (was it North or West?)
Driving is a focused activity (unless it's autonomous driving).
Accidents are called accidents for a reason. You can't prevent an accident by the nature of its definition.
This is just public announcement that the gov't wants to control you.
Just give us:
better driving schools (like Germany)
better roads (like Japan)
better cars (like the EU)
better options for public transportation (like the rest of the world).
Lamest spot ever. It is even borderline funny with the topics and the swooshy not-crash at the end. This is not how you communicate the dangers of distracted driving. Seriously, when you have all the potential of a pregnant woman bursting on a sedan's windshield, the driver loosing control of the vehicle, crashing it into a pole and be catapulted outside, through the mess on the winshield – you don't go for daddy telling the dog where to pee.
@(Unverified)
one word......twat!
Behold the 6310i..
Ah yes - immediately drew my attention. Best phone ever! If you've ever held one in your hand, you'll know what I'm talking about. (That's what she said)
Abut the picture used in this article.
Car being driven on the left hand side?
Vodafone UK on the Nokia 6310?
Where in the UK is Detroit?
@ChazClout
Spelling correction fail. I made no sense there!
My state passed a law that went into effect January 1st prohibiting the use of text messaging for all drivers. In honor of this, I sent my first and last tweet at 65MPH on the highway last night.
To do it somewhat safely took about 15 minutes, though, so I don't think I'll miss the legality of it.
@streetstealth Downvoted for tweeting... anywhere. I don't care if you did it driving or sitting in the tub.
History has shown that this sort of program always works. Just look at the war on dru-... er, teenage preg-... uh, binge drin-... Tobacco use?
@somethinguniqueanddescriptive Heavy fines have indeed mitigated some of those you mentioned. I don't see nearly as many people smoking as I did before they were $20 a pack.
@somethinguniqueanddescriptive
LOL
But seriously there are not enough strong programs against hazardous activity. The best tobacco use program was the "truth" one(though i admit that it was pretty good, the tons of crawling baby dolls with secondhand smoke fatality statistics always freaked people out).
People who use a phone while driving should just be punched in the dick/kicked in the vagina until they can't procreate. So, at the least, their stupidity won't be carried on.
29th!!!
eat it b$tches
lady on the right her reaction. priceless.
@va jj LOLOLOLOLOLO...*crash*
@va jj LOLOLOLOL ;)
@HighestRanked This is so that we don't have accidents and have to deal with the terrible healthcare plan Obama setup lol
"LOLOLOLOLOL"
This ad is pathetic. Show the people get in a crash. Show them hurling through their windshields, breaking their skulls on their steering wheels, snapping their necks from whiplash etc.
The best would be to just use real footage. I remember for my driver's ed class they showed a video from a taxi's security camera of the driver being hurled into the back of his car after getting into a high-speed crash without wearing a seatbelt.
@AleVH try having an accident without any health care at all and see what happens
Unless you band it completely, make it punishable by fines; people are going to do it. Putting up website, and telling folks time and time again will not work.
For example: Seatbelt's, no need to say more.
If talk and texting while driving is so much of a freaking pain, pass a law and start throwing the book and fining people. If your not gonna do that, move on and focus your brainless power on something else.
@305BuddyLuv California does punish with fines, but people still talk and text on their handsets all the time.
This campaign will be effective though. If you ever expect 100% compliance, you'll be disappointed 100% of the time. If this campaign improves compliance from 30% to 40%, then it was effective.
I know I stopped texting and using the handset in California when it became illegal to do so. I'm sure many others did as well. If a million people stopped, then surely there were less incidents that were caused by texting or calls.
@Kambridge
Yes I agree.
I was using hands free headsets when they started being sold. Texting will driving, I did a few times; but it was at a red light and I texted I was driving. My thing is every state needs to follow Cali on this if they want to make a big dent.
When they start putting point on your license, and nailing folks with big fines, more folks with take it seriously. Right now not enough people are.