How Technology is Making Driving More Dangerous

BRANDON KENYON
January 20, 2009

Most people look at technology as life-saving wonders that have forever enhanced the way live, work and play. While that's true for the most part—we love our iPhones and GPS units as much as the next guy—these hi-tech marvels become dangerous weapons when they fall into the wrong hands.

Smart phones. Stupid drivers.

We have a question for all those busy professionals, teenagers, soccer moms, stay-at-home dads, CEOs, CFOs, pizza delivery guys, couriers, taxi drivers, and pretty much anyone else who feels the need to be constantly connected: Is it really that important?

Do you really need to respond to that email from your boss right now? Does your wife really need to know that you'll be home 5 minutes later than usual right now? And do you really need to do it while negotiating sharp turns and avoiding potholes at 55mph speeds?

When you choose to type on your Blackberry, iPhone or other smart phone while driving, you could find yourself LOL-ing all the way to traffic school.

On January 1, 2009, a new law in the State of California went into effect that makes writing, sending, or reading text-based communication while driving illegal. That includes text messages, instant messages, and email. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles website, violating the law is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense.

A handful of other states have similar text messaging bans on the books, but until drivers in all 50 states put their phones down, traffic school will continue to be a familiar place for more and more drivers.

Ask your GPS how to get to traffic school.

The days of awkward map unfolding and refolding are long gone. Today, many drivers have replaced the paper in the glove box with a GPS navigation system on the dashboard. And it's not just technologically savvy drivers who have fallen in love with these devices. Senior citizens, many of whom took defensive driving programs before seatbelts existed, are enjoying the freedom of driving without having to worry about getting lost.

Most GPS systems are incredibly easy to work. Input the address of where you're going, press a button, and viola. The GPS unit tells you when to turn, when to merge, and when to stop until you arrive at your destination.

One would think that GPS units present less of a risk to drivers than the map of yesteryear. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. While technological wonders, GPS systems still need to be told what to do. And if you're doing the instructing while driving, you could find yourself with a ticket to traffic school. Inputting a new destination address while behind the wheel could cause you to run a red light, which would ultimately result in a traffic violation, points on your driving record, and enrolment in a defensive driving program.

Technology Finally Gets Used for Good

Now that we've covered the bad news on how technology is endangering lives on the road, there's some good news. Drivers who are ordered to attend traffic school can now attend class from the comfort of their own home through an online defensive driving program. Traffic School Online, which pioneered the online defensive driving concept in 1997, lets drivers dismiss their traffic ticket, keep their insurance rates in check and avoid points on their record. The 100% state-approved online traffic school program is incredible convenient and while it's technically possible to access TrafficSchoolOnline.com from your iPhone's web browser, please don't do so while driving. It kind of defeats the purpose.