Over the years, one thing has remained constant: people are paying less and less attention to what they are doing while driving. When I was in 9th grade, a number of students were involved in car accidents when their bikes were hit by drivers on mobile phones. Now these arent the phones we have today, but the big bricks of days gone bye. In the twenty plus years that have passed, the dangers have gotten worse and worse, leading several cities, states, and countries to ban the use of mobile phones while driving. Last week, a friend of mine shared a video link to new UK PSA detailing the dangers of texting while driving. The ad is awesome because it is very graphic. It shows three young women on the highway the driver sending an sms. Then she crosses the center line and creates a head-on collision. Another car rear-ends her and sends the car spinning. One of the teenagers is dead. The parents in another car are gone as well, leaving their child asking rescuers, Why wont mommy and daddy wake up? Its a powerful ad that shows the true dangers of diverting your attention from the road. The ad is shot on a huge budget, so everything, and I mean everything, looks realistic. I mean, lets face it if youre going to send a text message while driving, you have to take your eyes away from the road. Then you have to look at the keys and press them in order. Its a huge drain on your cognitive power and can only lead to a disastrous outcome. If youve ever texted while driving, then count yourself lucky. Simply put, its a bad idea. Its one reason why I detest the notion that so many GPS devices here in Korea can pick up the broadcast television signals. Several times Ive come back home at night while the driver is watching the screen rather than road and I simply pray that I can make it out alive. Utah (in the United States) has taken this seriously and now labels texting while driving as a willful act. They are correct in this assertion. No one forces you to text while driving, and if you choose to do so, then thats the call you make. In fact, research shows that being on a mobile phone is just as distracting as being drunk. This is one reason why Utah is now punishing those who cause accidents while texting to the same degree as those that are under the influence. Drivers could face jail time up to 15 years should they create an accident. Now, I havent seen the law, but Im sure there are several steps put in place before that 15 years is hit. Those are probably reserved for the accidents that cause fatalities. In any case, I think its the right move. Getting behind the wheel is serious business, since you are in command of a vehicle that can kill. The punishment for taking that responsibility lightly should be severe. UK PSA: www.youtube.com Utah Law: www.nytimes.com