I was sent a link to the Oprah website yesterday. Why? Because the site was featuring a full length episode about the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone.

I watched the episode and recommend you do as well. It was very powerful. Oprah spoke with the families of people who had lost their husbands, mothers, sons and daughters due to the dangerous practice of driving while using a mobile phone.

There were also some fairly scary statistics.

In the USA, as well as in Australia, you are four times more likely to be in an accident if you drive while talking on a mobile phone.

The statistics for driving while texting are even worse. Texting while driving is equivalent to having four shots of alcohol before getting in your car.

You are 8 times more likely to be in an accident when you drive while texting.

The most staggering statistics? That in the USA last year alone, 6000 people were killed by mobile phone related accidents. A further 500,000 people were injured. 

Oprah has launched a nationwide campaign to lobby for all US states to make mobile phone use illegal in cars. Unlike Australia, mobile phone use while driving is not illegal in all US states. 

There were also some eye-opening graphics about mobile phone use while driving.

Dr David Strayer from the University of Utah explained that it is physically impossible for the brain to concentrate on both talking and driving at once. So the brain blocks out certain messages to compensate while you are driving. Examples are included below.






Some of Oprah's viewers have created bumper stickers to support the cause. My favourite was:

"Honk if you love Jesus...Text if you want to meet him..."

To watch the full episode head to Oprah.com