Requiring Driving Students to Text While Driving Makes a Big Impression

As reported by Little Things: According to the CDC, each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. In order to reduce the 1.2 million traffic victims worldwide each year, we have to act. So, how to convince eager drivers not to text while driving? Prove it to them in an unexpected way. See how these student drivers react when they’re told they can only pass on one condition…

…The only way they’ll earn their license? “You must prove you’re able to use your mobile phone while driving.”

A Belgian organization called Responsible Young Drivers enlisted a driving school and driving instructor to be in on this brilliant social experiment that quickly went viral. Hidden cameras film the students as they try their best to text and drive. The results are incredibly powerful. While attempting to send text messages at the request of the instructor, the drivers must also avoid a course of traffic cones and obstacles in their way. The drivers brake, swerve, and panic.

“Imagine that’s a child,” the instructor says, as one student nearly breaks down in tears.