Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Safety

High-Stakes Testing: A Lesson in Texting While Driving

Here's a cool, funny, and genuinely effective public service announcement out of Belgium. According to Gizmodo, non-profit Responsible Young Drivers essentially pranked a bunch of people taking their drivers license exam. To pass, they were told, they'd have to show they could adequately send text messages while keeping control of the car.å

The results, all caught on camera, strike an impressive balance. You'll laugh at he skids, swerves and shrieks of the panicked test takers even while realizing that the flying cones could, outside the context of a YouTube clip, be someone's child.

The power of the clip comes in part from how easy it is to identify with the drivers, who quickly understand that performing both tasks well is nearly impossible. “Honestly, I feel like an idiot who can’t drive,” says one, while another realizes: “People will die.”

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Metro Updates: 25 Months of Ridership Growth, and More

Metro ridership is growing steadily, plus Metro 605/5/10/60/105 Freeway expansion, Metro Micro, bus electrification, C Line, and Metro wildfire response

January 18, 2025

SGV Connect 132: A Fond Farewell to Melanie Curry

This week’s SGV Connect Podcast features the entire Streetsblog in California team saying goodbye to the Streetsblog California editor, Melanie Curry, as she heads into retirement.

January 16, 2025
See all posts