Such videos probably do work in the short term. Most of the survey responders, who apparently rated this right after (or even during) the clip, said it was highly effective. My initial reaction was similar.

However, not much assessment seems to have been done as to long-term consequences. For instance, I soon had some second thoughts. I don't see how there could have been cameras and recorders in all the right places and times to catch the act of texting, the jostling of the girls at the moment of impact, and the cascading sequence of further collisions. --Unless it was staged--.

Because of factors like this, I have doubts about the staying power of such messages. Just like the old (1950s or so) Movie in Health Class, in which a few gruesome cases of VD were the only sex education there was. Yeah, did that ever work.

To extend the good effects of messages like this, some additional reinforcement would help. For example, kids and adult drivers alike could deputize their friends to intervene if the driver is tempted to use a cell phone (texting being worse than talking.) Delegate this to a passenger, or pull off the road. Enlist your friends to steer you away from temptation, the better for you to steer your car.

I think this should be shown in driver's ed classes and the like, with follow-up suggestions added. It takes time to build a good culture.

BTW, I don't own a cell phone, and don't plan to. Cue up a bit of Barbra Streisand: People, who need people, are the cell-phone-user people. But they aren't necessarily the luckiest people.

Hello Tornado,

It is obviously staged as it is a Public Safety Announcement.

The 'second thoughts' that you experienced were similar to my own and prompted me to pose the question.

The video clip lacks credibilty as a stand alone documentary. It would need to be touted as a realistic, re-enactment of an actual incident for it to have traction with teens.

They could casually dismiss it as an overblown fake incident and as a parent you would now have to defend the possibility of something like that ever happening.

Your good intention, of warning your child, is off to a rocky start and can quickly be construed as parental gullibility and overbearing worry wart syndrome.

I concur with your drivers ed. class etc, suggestion.

Thanks for the response.

Given where we are with technology, the simple solution is to render cell phones inoperable at speeds in excess of walking speed, except when calling 911. You wanna talk or text, pull over!

None of the other crap matters. It didn't work on my generation and today's little dears are more sophisticated than we were.

Hello LynLynch,

I like that you always have an interesting take on questions. Your "render cell phones inoperable at speeds in excess of walking speed" suggestion would really mix it up. It would not only inhibit the driver but anyone else in a car, bus, train, plane etc, from contacting people as is often necessary to do.

We could refine the shotgun approach. With some sensors in the rear-view mirror, front windshield and drivers side window that would shield the driver from distractions. There are sensors that pick-up an unfocused or napping driver or pilot and these could be used as anti-texting devices as texting takes a drivers focus from the road.

"It didn't work on my generation and today's little dears are more sophisticated than we were."

This is probably very true as my kids think they can spread their attention better than 'Pappy' while driving. The hand and attention to the radio, changing cds, fixing the I-Pod chasing the slippery I-Phone across the dash and checking out the cool Porche that just flew by going the opposite direction.

Interesting world we live in.

Best regards.

Mark my words. Some %%$*& will run over three kids in a school crosswalk while watching this video on youtube and driving at the same time.

Over the years, I've managed to break both thumbs. I always thought that a hindrance...till texting came along. It keeps me from even considering texting as a way of life.

Hello TVP45,

I actually saw some reference on another anti-texting thread, which mentions a teen, while leaving school property ran into a garbage can as they were distracted while texting.

I take it that this video got 2 thumbs up from you!

Best regards.

The video was produced as a public service announcement by the Gwent Police Department of Wales.

If graphic displays such as this is what it takes to keep idiots focused on the task at hand (operating a multi-ton vehicle), then I'm all for it.

I don't text, and rarely use my cell phone at all. Nobody calls me, anyway.

Hello Sue,

I have not figured how to enlarge an avatar photo. It looks like Ireland or Wales at a glance.

It is a very well made, hard hitting video, but it could be broadcast more effectively.

Best regards.

Oh—it worked on me though I may not be part of the target audience I suspect most parents would react as I did. Thank you..Yes this should play at the beginning of sports events in and out of schools, everywhere.

Parental reinforcement is always a boon to effectiveness too.

Hello bwire,

It is a good suggestion to play it before sports events etc, maybe even the local cinema.I thank you for your input.

Best, regards

Yes video in the interim or pre cinematic advertising I recall having a retention about 80% after 90 days as per marketing surveys etc..

Could be I'm becoming an old softy the video cause me to cry...

If you required beginning drivers who want to obtain their drivers licence to volunteer as a ride along in an ambulance, at least 2, 8 hour shifts, say between the hours of 3 pm Friday to Sunday night sometime. This may eliminate the need to have these types of videos.

Hello shahand,

This may initially sound like a good idea but seems impractical to me. Thanks for the thoughts. It sparks an idea.

Is there a graphic way to simulate the ability of a human brain (teen brain) to multitask. This has probably been studied ad infinitum in older adults but has this type of study been done on teenagers. This could clarify whether older adults are correct in their perception that it is impossible to multitask and drive safely.

I have to think that our generation have brought this problem on ourselves by always promoting the 'can do' attitude in our kids. I am as guilty as the next parent of empowering my kids, from a very young age, to try to overcome, any and all obstacles life happens to put in their way.

Take adolescence, sprinkled with testosterone and teenage invincibility and we have personally had our share of fender benders from driving too closely and high, speeding tickets. We were blessed with no injuries caused or received and took our expected 'lumps' with money gauging fines to boot. Texting now brings the whole mess to another level.

Can we put the 'genie back in the bottle' for all our sakes.