The Consequences of Texting and Driving

Erin confesses to texting while driving, and agrees to be hooked up to a machine that evaluates her driving performance while she texts.

The Consequences of Texting and Driving John Rechlitz: Texting while driving is outlawed in 18 of 50 states, some are going into effect later this year and many more states are scrambling to get legislation in place. The texting and driving PSA that we showed you earlier has garnered worldwide attention. We wanted to put texting and driving to the test. And here to help us out is Erin. She’s outside our studio in a brand new IS Convertible from Lexus in Glendale and then in the passenger seat is Marty Foster of Driving Square Simulation service. So Erin we have to ask you. How often do you text and drive? Erin: Well, I try not to do it too often but I definitely have before. John Rechlitz: So have you ever any close calls? Erin: Thankfully no. But that could be a good or a bad thing I guess. Since the more I do it, and nothing bad happens the more confident I get about it. John Rechlitz: Well, obviously you’re here because we want to teach you a lesson. Erin: Right. John Rechlitz: So why don’t you start driving with the simulator Marty walk us through and have the simulator works. Marty: Basically, we have a simulator had that you see underneath the rubber tires here that has a sensor in it. We also have attached the sensor on the gas pedal as well as the break pedal. So that she’s actually using this full car, we haven’t tricked it out; it’s just a sensor on the gas pedal break pedal. She also has a head mounted display which allows or to see everything that you see in the virtual world. So she’ll has 360 degree viewing, so she’s can see beside her, behind her, and that she’s actually stepping on that gas pedal, she’s using her break pedal, and as you can see while she was texting. John Rechlitz: And texting. Marty: Yeah. Female: Wow! Marty: So basically she’s now got an eyes off the road and as you can see she’s driving off while texting. Erin: Oh, no. Marty: So she’s loosing control of her vehicle, in that short amount of time. Female: And now she’s texting. Marty: And there she goes again. Female: Yeah. Every time -- John Rechlitz: Oh. Female: Jeez! Female: Okay. Male: Ask her if she’s okay. Male: Oh, be careful, oh no. Female: No, no, no. John Rechlitz: No, let’s stop right now. Let’s stop right now. Erin, tell me you’re never going to text again while you drive. Erin: Hold on, I have a phone call coming. No, I’m just kidding. I’m never going to text again while driving. John Rechlitz: And you’re going to take that phone call if you want. Male: Erin! Male: Are you okay, Erin? Male: Are you okay? Erin: Yes, I’m okay. Male: Well, why are you texting and talking on the phone while you’re driving? You know that’s not safe. Erin: Because sometimes you think you can do it. And you just can’t. John Rechlitz: Oh, well, Erin, thank you so much helping us out with this experiment and Marty thank you for you assistance with the Drive Square simulator. We appreciate it. Marty: Thank you.