Students to see graphic film highlighting dangers of texting while driving

Students to see graphic film highlighting dangers of texting while driving


Anton McNulty

A FILM highlighting the dangers of texting while driving will be shown to over a thousand secondary school students during the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow which will take place in the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar.
The graphic film which was produced by the Gwent police in Wales with film-maker Peter Watkins-Hughes became an internet hit across the globe. The film seeks to highlight the dangers of texting to dramatic effect as it follows fictional schoolgirl Cassie Cowan, nicknamed Cox.
She and her friends are involved in a horrific car crash after she loses concentration behind the wheel while texting. A four-minute taster clip of the film, generally known as COW, has been seen by millions of viewers on YouTube, and has gained global attention.
Texting while driving became an offence in 2006 but many people are still ignorant of its dangers and Noel Gibbons, Mayo Road Safety Officer hopes that the film will highlight the dangers to the students. A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in the US found that people who send text messages while driving are 23 times more likely to be in a crash than non-distracted drivers.
“I hope that after watching this film motorists will think twice before picking up their mobile phone when behind the wheel and realise that a quick reply to a text message or answering a phone call is never worth putting theirs and other people’s lives at risk. The film can only go a small way to making teenagers and adults driving on our roads, consider the potential consequences of their self-involved habits. But if it even makes one person think twice, or even once, about the consequences, then any amount of graphic content is to be applauded. There is surely nothing gratuitous about trying to save a life,” he said.
Over 1,000 teenagers from all over Mayo will watch the  film  provided to Mayo County Council by the Gwent police at the Roadshow this Thursday, February 4, which aims to positively influence those drivers who are about to start driving. Garda Pat O’Hora from Mayo Traffic Corp hopes the serious message in this film will hit home to viewers.
“Making and receiving calls and texting whilst driving is still happening on roads not just in Mayo but all over the country. Seeing a scenario, like the one in the film, played out right before your eyes makes you realise how extremely dangerous it can be and what devastating consequences it can have,” he said.

The four minute clip can be viewed by logging onto the link: www.gwent.police.uk/leadnews.php?a=2172.