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Sock It to Me! Thumb Socks Prevent Texting While Driving
Even though many of us are still baffled as to why teens feel the need to text while driving, and even though innumerable news stories warn of the potentially fatal consequences, the younguns just keep on doing it. Old-school, gory, scared-straight films like 'Red Asphalt' and the like -- screened in darkened drivers-ed classrooms across the U.S. -- may not be addressing the problem. So what's the answer? Why, it's Thumb Socks!DoSomething.org has created a campaign, boasting the endorsements of Joel McHale and Ken Jeong of NBC's 'Community,' to encourage teens to put a sock on it. These little thumb cozies may look like they've been pulled straight from the Regretsy archives, but their SMS-impeding abilities should not be taken for granted. Car crashes still comprise the leading cause of death for teens, and texting while driving increases the likelihood of a smash-up by four times.
DoSomething has been distributing the socks for free since mid-April, and was, at one time, forced to pause orders as it restocked due to high demand. Although the group is once again taking orders, it is apparently running dangerously low on inventory, and is currently talking to co-sponsor Sprint about manufacturing a fresh batch.
Unfortunately, thumb socks aren't available for the oldsters; only those whipper-snappers aged 25 and younger are eligible for the pack of four. (The extra pair can be given to a friend.) Even though DoSomething's pushing hard for this trend to take off (and apparently succeeding, if they keep running out), we totally support these quirky little digit wrappers. Even if teens don't actually take the time to don the things before getting behind the wheel, they may think twice about reaching for their cell phones while on the road. [From: New York Times]
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Comments
11
Subscribe to commentslinemanronMay 18th 2010 8:27PM
Have them watch Faces of Death 3. That will put an end to that!
GloriaMay 19th 2010 1:26AM
Stupid idea, someones making money, right is right wrong is wrong. Duh.
ajschrodMay 20th 2010 12:58PM
Texting is for kids. Drivers should put their phone phone down for ANY reason!
ClarkMay 18th 2010 11:20PM
What cell phones need are GPS receivers that disable the keypad when the phone is moving faster than approximately a person's normal walking speed (or can't get a GPS signal) AND cuts off the phone if a headset is NOT plugged into it. Many cell phones are already GPS enabled. It seems an easy fix to eliminate driving while texting or to enforce hands-free talking. Of course, 911 should still work.
T.O.May 19th 2010 12:26AM
That doesn't work if you are a passenger on a bus, train or even in a car. People just need to realize it is as dangerous as drinking and driving, yet more adults text while driving than driving while drunk.
tramsuMay 19th 2010 1:47AM
It's actually a proven fact that teenage boys are the most dangerous drivers on the road, not women.
LitaMay 19th 2010 1:55AM
The article says, "Unfortunately, thumb socks aren't available for the oldsters; only those whipper-snappers aged 25 and younger are eligible for the pack of four." Maybe that's because those older than 25 aren't stupid enough to text while driving. Of course, it could be that the over 25 crowd is stupid in a different way....
KenMay 19th 2010 2:32AM
I see probably 20 instances of people texting wehile driving each day in my normal commuting. And it's ALWAYS young drivers.
If I were king:
First offense of texting while driving: $500 fine.
Second offense: $1,000 fine + mandatory 30 days in jail.
Third offense: Loss of license for 5 years, $1000 fine and 90 days in jail.
But where I live, it's a measly $20 fine. Legislators are way too chicken to crack down on this and cell phone calling by drivers.
So when the lawmakers don't take it seriously, we cannot expect the cops to, either.
KenMay 19th 2010 2:40AM
Robert Sanchez, the California train engineer who was texting when his train crashed, was 48...not a kid. He missed seeing a red light and plowed into another train, killing himself and 24 passengers--and injuring 135 other folks.
wulffbaneMay 26th 2010 2:45AM
Technology is improving in the area of voice to text translation. I've been using an app. for my Blackberry which, when you press the left-hand button, the app comes up and you speak into it like you would a CB or police radio.
I say something like "Send Jane I'm running late I'll be home at 8".
It then speaks your text back to you so you can hear it, then you just hit the send key. It translates about 90-95% of your speech correctly when its quiet, but if you're in heavy traffic with a lot of road noise it might send:
"I'm ruining light ill bee him at ate" , which at times is hysterical to the recipient, who then replies... "Did you send that using that voice app again?"
Its a step in the right direction. If they could develop a plug and lock in cradle for the phone which is linked into a hands free system, then this whole manual texting issue would be less of one.
WB.
lfdoverdriveMay 19th 2010 3:51AM
Isn't this the kind of thing that Joel makes fun of on The Soup? They keep running out because it's so stupid.