Texting While Driving is Serious Business
Last month Volkswagen ran a shocking Public Service Announcement in a cinema in Hong Kong.
It went like this: Cinema goers watched a first person view of someone driving a car down a long road. Not too long after the “drive” started, people in the theater received a text message. When those with mobiles looked down to see the message, the car in the movie crashed into a tree.
After a moment to let the situation sink in, the screen went to a message saying “Mobile use is now the leading cause of death behind the wheel. A reminder to keep your eyes on the road.”
While PSAs educating people about the risks of mobile use and driving are common, Volkswagen appears to be the first to actually incorporate live texting (reportedly using location based services at the cinema). If you watch the video, you’ll see the people genuinely seem to be shocked, arguably more so than if they simply watched a movie of someone crash while reading a text message.
Despite efforts to raise awareness and the penalties associated with distracted driving, many continue to use their mobiles in the car. A recent study by RAC Foundation showed a high percentage of people in the UK are not aware of the laws surrounding distracted driving and mobile use in particular.
For instance, 61% of people claimed they were unaware that texting in a stationary car while the engine is running is illegal (like waiting in traffic). The study also found one in eight believe that texting while driving is legal. It makes me wonder if these people are blissfully ignorant or just pretending to be so. Here in the UK there are very specific laws regarding distracted driving that anyone who gets behind the wheel should know. For a quick overview and to test your knowledge of the law, visit gov.uk.
As a text message service provider we encourage everyone to follow the law and stay safe. No text is worth risking anyone’s life.
Related Articles
Getting a Reply: Should You Choose a VMN or Shortcode? Part 2
Part two of a two part article explaining the differences between SMS Shortcodes and Virtual Mobile Numbers. Here we explain in detail the costs and characteristics of Dedicated Shortcodes and Shared Shortcodes. You can also get advice on how to choose between shortcodes and VMNs.
3 Ingredients for Successful SMS Marketing
Best Practices for SMS Marketing
In many of our previous posts, we have discussed the whys and hows of SMS marketing, listing the benefits, and the impacts on lead generation. There’s no doubt that by employing a marketing strategy that uses business SMS as a medium that your processes will become more efficient and your leads will become more targeted, meaning a better ROI. Here we will look at the best practices for SMS marketing to ensure your campaigns are offering the best for you and your users.
7 Statistics That Show Why You Should be Using SMS Marketing Right Now
You might have heard about SMS marketing and thought it wasn't for you. Maybe you're unconvinced by this method of reaching customers and are just not sure it could help your business thrive. But any business, big or small, can benefit from an online SMS service and the facts are plain to see.
One Simple Trick Can Boost Your SMS Marketing
SMS marketing offers the ability to send time-sensitive offers to your best customers. But are you missing out on the potential of your own brand in your offers? Read this post to see an example of how a simple trick can potentially boost your results.
5 SMS Marketing lessons from The Apprentice
5 Reasons SMS Marketing Matters Now More Than Ever
What Hotel Impossible Taught Me about SMS Marketing
In Hotel Impossible, Anthony Melchiorri saves struggling hotels. It turns out some of the advice he gives them could make you a lot more money. It’s all about marketing and knowing where to get the best ROI. Read the blog to see if you’re spending in the right places.
