Utah Texting While Driving PSA 1085-Echo: A Texting Tragedy

The video tells the story of two Utah men who were killed by the actions of another texting driver. Texting while driving is a relatively new traffic safety issue that has local and national transportation officials, along with traffic safety advocates scrambling to find ways to address a rapidly growing concern. Utah has enacted a new law banning texting while driving, but laws alone are not enough to get through to the exponentially growing number of careless, distracted drivers. Some people need to see the potential consequences of their actions

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Reggie Shaw
• Utah Texting
• Texting while driving
• 10-85 Echo
• Texting laws
• distracted driving
• not buckling up
• seat belts
• impaired driving
• drunk driving
• aggressive driving
• Don't Drive Stupid
• Zero Fatalities
• Texting PSA
• Utah Texting PSA
• Driving PSA
• Safe Driving

[MyMultimedia]

Hey zerofatalities, I have a few questions.

1. Is Utah the only state where you can get a criminal record if you text and drive, even if you don't crash?

2. Texting and driving could earn you a $750 fine in Utah, as well as three months behind bars. If you cause a fatality, it's a felony. But it's still legal in Utah to have a regular conversation while driving. The part that I don't understand is, when you dial the number to reach the person you want to talk to, isn't that just like texting?

[zerofatalities]

@MyMultimedia

In Utah, it can be a Class C Misdemeanor if you are stopped for texting while driving. More than half of all states have similar laws that penalize drivers even if they don't crash.

Dialing a phone # is also distracting, but is not legally considered texting (Utah Traffic Code 76-4-401).

It is possible the person could be cited for careless driving (Utah Code 41-6a-1715).

The bottom line: Zero Fatalities recommends you put the phone away entirely.

[countrypride3]

the Bear River high school that he went to was that in California?

[zerofatalities]

@countrypride3 No. Reggie Shaw is from Utah.

[BeautifulTree]

Menh! I just watched the video at my orientation. I text and drive too but after this video I will NEVER touch my phone while driving. I've always know that I can die from texting while driving but it never cross my mind that I can kill somebody too...I wont be able to live with that

[zerofatalities]

@BeautifulTree That's good that watching that helped you change your behavior. Now, remember, you are not only saving your own life but others around you. Now share it with your friends.

[supersaiyanmofo]

@ittasteslikewp I will never know what its like to kill 2 innocent people like Reggie did, cos i have more common sense to know how dangerous it is to use yr fone while driving.

[supersaiyanmofo]

@ittasteslikewp Also... like i said the first time... I do not feel sorry for Reggie & he got of lightly... if it was up to me, id have locked him up for 10 years MINIMUM.

[supersaiyanmofo]

@ittasteslikewp Im sure he is a nice guy. I never called him an idiot. I never said he was always getting into trouble or making mistakes. I didnt label him as someone who never learns. Re-read what i wrote... i was basically saying, "People who text or use their phones while driving WILL NEVER LEARN until it is too late like Reggie did. I can guarantee u 100% most people who have killed someone while driving n txting would still be doing it today if they hadnt killed anyone.

[ittasteslikewp]

@supersaiyanmofo I work with reggie. and you dont know half of what he has been through. Reggie is an awesome guy and is not an idiot! he wasnt always getting in trouble or making mistakes so dont label him as a person who never learns. I dont think you know what its like living everyday knowing you killed two men. KILLED! You will never know what its like. Try to show a little affection for a man who made a mistake and is now making a difference!

[rebab2000]

It is amazing to me that people are still texting while driving. Are they really that stupid? What have we created.

[SpartanLegion1]

This is a population controller.

[ChivasBarcelonaMex]

um he sad negligent homicide shouldn't it have been negligent manslaughter?

[justinh339]

@zerofatalities Hi zero fatalitie I was recently cited for texting and driving there was no accident or other violation. I was curious as to what the average fine for a citation such as this might be?

[Albylion]

The trouble with this video is it shows that what Reggie Shaw did was a fluke, "just one of those things" that has to happen to somebody, and he was just unlucky. "I thought I was safe." No, he thought he was special, just like everyone thinks when they text while driving. Consequences only happen to other people. It's okay if you do it "just this once" or if you're "really fast." 'The laws are there to protect me; I don't have to obey them, everyone else does.'

[supersaiyanmofo]

I dont feel sorry for Reggie at all. It doesnt take brains to figure out texting while driving is dangerous. Its sad what happened... but people like him will never learn until somethin like this happens..... lesson learned, when its too late.