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Do You Text and Drive? (Warning! Graphic Content)

By Dawn Maloney

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist 2003008108

August 21, 2009 07:49 AM

Recently I was sitting at a stop light, checking my email. I glanced up, saw green and took off.

Only my light wasn't green.

It was the turning arrow for the lane to my left. I proceeded to run a redlight from a complete stop...because I was using my phone and went on autopilot. I couldn't believe it happened to me!

I'm careful. I'm a grown-up. I'm aware of how dangerous it is. Yet I did it.

Please do not text or read email when driving. Even if you are careful, one mistake is too many.

This video makes the point like nothing else you will see:

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Barbara Bowden

Prudential Jack White/Vista Real Estate - Anchorage, AK

It is scary how often we drive on autopilot, whether we are on the phone or not. I frequently find my mind wandering while I drive, and realize that I don't remember actually looking at the green light, just going because the car in front of me did... I think we all need to stop and focus a little harder on our driving.

Aug 21, 2009 07:52 AM

Robert Havana

Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB

Alberta Real Estate License Parking

It takes full concentration for me to text while standing still, I don't know how anyone can do it while driving. I really don't find anything that exciting or important that it can't just wait until I make time for it later.

Aug 21, 2009 07:52 AM

C Tann-Starr

Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Featured @ Club Chaos

Aug 21, 2009 08:00 AM

Dawn Maloney

RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist - Hudson, OH

330-990-4236 Hudson & Northeastern Ohio

Barbara, I agree! When you are used to multi-tasking, it becomes a habit.

Robert, Full concentration is crucial when driving, and I realized that even at a stop, no texting is the RULE - I have to stay aware at all times. I just really thought I could shut off my brain from one task to another - but that isn't so.

Thanks for the feature Carolyn - maybe this will prevent some accidents!!!!!

Aug 21, 2009 08:04 AM

Brian Block

RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA

Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

Dawn, Virginia just made it illegal as of July 1st to text and drive. As tempting as it is with the iPhone, one must remember the dire consequences of making such a mistake.

Aug 21, 2009 08:05 AM

C Tann-Starr

Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

Dawn, you are very welcome. This is a very important issue. I actually have my friends answer my phone while I am driving or now turn it off. It is a $130 ticket up in NYC if you are caught talking on your cell phone while driving. I pulled over to answer my phone and got a $115 ticket for double parking. They scan, check off a box or two and print. You get a ticket 1-2-3 up here. Very quick and very painful (LOL).

Aug 21, 2009 08:31 AM

Dawn Maloney

RE/MAX Trinity Northeast Ohio Real Estate Specialist - Hudson, OH

330-990-4236 Hudson & Northeastern Ohio

Brian, I think that is the shape of things to come, and it's good. It's just too dangerous.

Carolyn, wow!!! I couldn't afford that - that hits where it hurts!!! Better practice now and get ahead of the curve.

Aug 21, 2009 08:37 AM

David M. Childress

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services - Akron, OH

I would love to be your Realtor® in Akron Ohio!

Great public service Dawn. I was looking at my phone once recently after the beep of a message and looked up just in time to see someone had stopped in front of me. I WILL NEVER LOOK FOR A TEXT OR TEXT MYSELF EVER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING (VOW).....what could possibly be worth crashing into some one? That video is tough to watch but much needed, imho. Thanks.

FYI, Summit County Council recently took this up for a possible ban and violation with a $125 fine in Summit County Ohio. I agree.

Aug 21, 2009 10:05 AM

Shirley Parks

Sands Realty 210-414-0966 - San Antonio, TX

Broker, 210-414-0966, San Antonio TX Real Estate

I saw this on tv, Dawn... very disturbing. I don't even answer my cell phone while driving. I don't see how someone could text and drive. btw, I love your new photo! just to let you know, your blog takes a long time to load. I have clicked on it twice today and it was the same both times.

Aug 21, 2009 01:11 PM

Jason Crouch

Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX

Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Dawn - This is a great public service, and I actually thought it could have been way more graphic. It gets the point across - I, too, have been guilty of this.

Aug 22, 2009 02:39 AM

Caren Wallace

Premier Property Group LLC - Tualatin, OR

Portland Caren Real Estate

Dawn, this is very impactful and everyone who texts should watch it and take notice!

FYI missed you at RE Bar Camp Ohio!

Aug 22, 2009 03:46 AM

Coleen DeGroff

Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors - Gainesville, FL

Haile Plantation Real Estate - Gainesville FL

Dawn - Glad everything turned out okay for you. There but for the grace of God and all that....

My son turned 15 and just got his learner's permit. He took a 4 week driving course.....to say that he has brought us up to speed on all the things we are doing wrong would be an understatement.

One of the main things he snagged me for was my use of the Crackberry while driving. Did you know Dr. Phil did a show on this very thing? Well, apparently he did because my son's driving class saw it. And I didn't hear the end of it.

So now I don't Crackberry while driving.

Aug 22, 2009 02:58 PM

Louis Snitkin

Halstead Property - Manhattan, NY

"Results That Will Move You"

Brian - It's been illegal in New York City for quite some time. There was a 24-hour crackdown on March 13th, and they wrote 9016 tickets (at $130 each). On August 20th they did another 24 hour crackdown, and "only" wrote 7432 tickets. And those are only the people who were caught! Enforcement is difficult, and compliance dismal. Personally, I don't even answer my phone while driving. The crackberry has an "off" button, and I've learned to use it.

Aug 24, 2009 06:04 AM

Louis Snitkin

Halstead Property - Manhattan, NY

"Results That Will Move You"

I just re-read Brian's comment. The tickets in NY were issued for cell phone use, not texting. Texting is illegal too. It's really scary when someone is texting with two hands and driving with their knees!

Aug 24, 2009 06:13 AM

Marcia Hawken

WILLIAM RAVEIS - Naples, FL

Naples Luxury Specialist

Thanks for sharing. Maybe videos like this will get people to see how dangerous this is!

Aug 25, 2009 08:35 PM

Susan Gonzalez Faux painting murals atlanta

Marietta Mural & Decorative Design - Atlanta, GA

We sat our teenager daown and made them watch this. Unfortunately, my daughter hit a car while she was texting last month. We did all the right things...drivers ed...extra driving instruction....we made her sign a "Teen drivers Contract" that had as one of the first rules NO USING THE CELL PHONE WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED ON.

It was one second of bad judgement...thanks to God, no one was hurt, but it could have gone the other way very easily

PLEASE HAVE YOUR TEENS WATCH THIS!!!

Thanks for posting

Aug 26, 2009 07:02 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Dawn: Sometimes you have to wonder if all this technology is really good for our society. What can't wait until you are stopped? In your office? But giving people the access to immediate forms of communication, of course they are going to want to use it and think they are different. Would love for texting to simply be illegal. I think it is an unnecessary form of communication.

Sep 01, 2009 03:39 AM

Cindy Jones

Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA

Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

It is time for people to realize how distracted they can become with the technology at our fingertips. I miss the days when I could just turn on the tunes in my car and enjoy a drive. Fortunately in our area texting while driving is illegal though it doesn't mean that it isn't being done. When it comes to teens parents should give them a basic emergency cell phone to take out with them and not let them have a PDA while they are out on the road.

Sep 01, 2009 04:20 AM

Judith Reppert

United Country Countryside Realty - Mount Vernon, MO

Wow, that was a very frightening video. I don't text while driving, but I do answer my phone. After seeing that, I think I'll be stopping. No phone call could be worth that.

Thank you for posting it.

Sep 02, 2009 07:55 AM

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