As we talked about the other day, sending text messages while driving is bad, okay? And in some states it’s illegal. So do Americans listen? If you make it against the law to send text messages, will only outlaws text?
It looks like people listened. The law took effect in January and according to a study done by the Automobile Club of Southern California, has caused 70% of the drivers who would txt while driving before, to stop. As impressive as this sounds, it should be 100%. I mean, is it REALLY that important to send a text message? It can’t wait until you can pull over, or get to your destination?
Of course, this study was done before the iPhone gained the ability to MMS, so who knows if the trend will last.
[via IntoMobile]
When I first read this, I sniffed a heavy whiff of self-reporting bias and was ready to call BS. Alas, my nostrils were deceived.
I want to give props to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Instead of polling drivers before and after the texting ban, which is what most full-of-crap research agencies would do, the Auto Club actually sat on the side of the road and watched driver behavior. Well done, and that lends much credence to the survey cited here.
Awesome. Everywhere should enforce these laws.
Finally, something to force real speech recognition out of the doldrums. Or maybe not; the field of speech recognition is hugely burdened by frivolous patents. perhaps we’ll have to wait for China to ban texting behind the wheel.