…consider spending the 34 minutes and 56 seconds it will take to watch this video, From One Second to the Next.
It was made and directed by Werner Herzog, the accomplished German filmmaker, at the request of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
From One Second to the Next will be shown to school groups and government agencies across the country.
But it seems to me that it is also worth all of us seeing this ‘scared straight’ documentary, whether we are an invincible youth, the 24/7 texting millennial generation, or the older and more experienced driver who also thinks that every text message needs to be read and answered upon receiving it or that we must call home to say we’ll be there in five minutes.
A few statistics:
- In 2011, 23% of all auto collisions involved cell phones. That equals 1.3 million crashes.
- Five seconds is the minimal time your attention is taken away when you’re texting. That means if you’re driving 55 mph, you go the length of a football field without looking at the road.
- Text messaging makes a crash up to 23 times more likely. Dialing increases your chances of crashing 2.8 times. Reaching for your cell phone 1.4 times, and talking or listening 1.3 times.
- 48% of young drivers have seen their parents talking on a cell while driving and 15% have seen them texting. It is not just a young person’s activity or problem.
(For more statistics and what the current laws are regarding this issue, see this link.)
I now put my cell phone away when I get in my car to drive. So far, I’ve done this for four days and hope to do so permanently. But I may have to see From One Second to the Next again every so often.
