I had have so many near misses on our highways and freeways here....kids are usually the culprits (but not always - the guys in suits aren't much better). I can see them in my rearview mirror texting away or beside me doing the same. Their eyes are not on the road. Instead they are gawking at their bloody phone. I have lost count of the number of times I have made the split second decision to take drastic evasive action to avoid being hit at over 100kph... Texters are just not aware behind the wheel...
It's illegal now to even hand hold your phone down here. Must be in a secure cradle or connected to bluetooth/handsfree. Lots of restrictions as to usage as well. We've had too many serious accidents that have been attributed to mobile phone/texting use.
http://www.tacsafety.com.au/upload/videos/distractions1.html
http://www.tacsafety.com.au/upload/videos/distractions2.html
On another note...I am going to hit my daughter and her friends over their thick heads very soon...the number of times I have watched them texting as they cross a busy road...eyes on their phones, not paying attention to the cars...more than once I have grabbed Charlotte by the arm and pulled her out of the way of traffic. What can be so bloody important in a text that it can't wait a few seconds??? I whacked her phone clean out of her hand once in the process of grabbing her to safety...you think she would have got it then. Doesn't seem to matter what I say either....for a smart girl she can be remarkably stupid sometimes.