This Is How Belgians Teach Youngsters About The Dangers Of Texting While Driving

Each year thousands of people die behind the wheel due to texting, and most of the victims are younger than 25. It’s a frightening fact that makes you question yourself how you can convince young people not to text while driving. The answer is to prove to them it is a very bad idea: make them text while driving (while being supervised, of course)! It’s how Belgians decided to show the young people in their country that texting while driving or replying to your Facebook status can harm you and others around you, and in the worst case, be fatal.Show more

In this video you can see how Belgian learner drivers reacted when they were told they had to pass the mobile phone test in order to get their driver's license. As every potential driver gets into the car, he is told that they have just received a new ministerial circular that introduces new road safety measures. These safety measures meant the young drivers must prove they are able to use their mobile phones while driving and at the same time avoid obstacles in the road.

"I didn’t invent this. Look here" the driving instructor convinces the learner drivers as they enter the vehicle.

One of them had pretty funny reaction and told him: "Plenty of people will crash, I’m telling you."

As the drivers start to drive, the instructor tells them what to write in the SMS. He even jokes with them that he will check if their spelling is correct.

What is important in this Belgian road safety campaign are the learners reactions of them not being able to drive at all while texting a message, saying that this is dangerous. Some of them even said that if this becomes law, they will stop driving.

One thing is for sure, you can’t do both things at the same time. At least that’s something we all agree with.

Credit: RYDBELGIUM