Distracted driving: Does the auto community care?

I’m in week five of my distracted driving campaign (I’m sure you’ve seen the multitude of my posts, emails, tweets, and Facebook updates), and I have to say that I’ve discovered a disconnect that disappoints me. While many of my acquaintances and friends within the automotive community have shown much support and enthusiasm for Distraction Free Fridays, the majority have been silent.

As auto enthusiasts, we hear so much about the dangers of bad habits behind the wheel – drinking and driving, texting and driving, tweeting, Facebooking – you name it, we’ve been told not to do it. At a certain point, I think that we become desensitized to it. Because we are so in tune with the automotive industry at large, we hear more about certain initiatives than does the general public.

However, I have been disappointed by the number of tweets I have read from my tweeps (read: “friends on Twitter”) that were typed when that person was behind the wheel. These aren’t just any tweeps – these are people who are car lovers and who care about the industry. These are people who should know better.

Yesterday, I came across the below tweet with a photo taken by the driver, who then typed his text and tweeted his followers, asking them to tell him if he should speed or not. There are so many things wrong with this tweet that I can’t even go into them all. It’s pretty clear why this tweet would bother me – and so many others who have been affected directly and indirectly by either the loss of someone who was driving distracted or because of someone who was driving while distracted.

Note: I’m not spotlighting this because I want to call out the person who posted this in a negative way. I simply hope that others might learn from his example. It’s not smart to tweet, twitpic, type, and speed all at the same time!

While some may find it annoying – kind of like a mosquito buzzing in their ear – that I am continuously encouraging more awareness around distracted driving during my eight-week-long campaign, I wonder when my pestering will be enough. When will what I’m saying cause others to think twice? That’s what this initiative is all about in the first place. Asking people to think twice before answering that email when your Blackberry beeps. Think twice about snapping a picture when you’re in the driver’s seat (and moving).

Is it really going to take a tragedy in your life to change your behavior? I certainly hope not.

Oh, and by the way, the correct answer is d) Put the device aside and focus on your drive!