BlackBerry outage causes dip in car crashes: police
Since Research In Motion accidentally flicked off its BlackBerry switch last week, the Waterloo-based company has done much to win back the affection of its smartphone users.
Just look, there was Mike Lazaridis in a hastily-produced video last Thursday, doing everything short of holding a copy of that day’s newspaper in deadpanning RIM’s call to action. And then there was the big reveal: after many BlackBerry users had argued for cash compensation for their suffering during the outage, RIM tried to calm the storm by offering a $100 credit for certain BlackBerry applications, an offer the Consumerist calls “some free apps you might not want.”
But here’s the one good thing to come from the BlackBerry outage, and it didn’t have much to do with RIM, after all.
By traffic figures just released, BlackBerry’s loss of service may have resulted in fewer car crashes by distracted drivers.
According to police in smartphone-mad Abu Dhabi, accidents fell 40 per cent in the days BlackBerry’s messaging service was unavailable. In Dubai, accidents fell 20 per cent during that same period.
*Bing: Could texting and driving really be worse than drinking and driving?
Of course, it may be a little irresponsible to link the dip in crashes to a drop in BlackBerry use – often, police may not be able to definitively tell if texting or similar smartphone behaviour is to blame for an accident – but that’s just what Abu Dhabi’s head traffic cop has done, directly tying the two.
On this side of the Atlantic, we haven’t heard much traffic news regarding the BlackBerry outage, but who knows if that’ll last?
According to NYPD data, for instance, distracted drivers were the leading cause of city traffic crashes in August, the last month numbers are available for.
Of the near-17,000 crashes in the Big Apple in August, almost 2,000 were chalked up to “driver inattention/distraction,” a behaviour that includes motorists using their phones or other electronic devices while driving.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Trip | Oct 20, 2021 12:41:27 AM
Nice try RIM.
Posted by: clear and focused | Oct 20, 2021 5:34:55 AM
How much did RIM pay for this article?
Posted by: Yerallnuts | Oct 20, 2021 6:44:15 AM
I'm not surprised to hear those stats.
Posted by: Bill C. | Oct 20, 2021 7:32:36 AM
Obviously the negative comments, come from someone who has not had an 18 Wheeler swerve into them on a 2 line highway, with the driver yacking on a hand held cell phone!!! I have, and, they should pull the idiots licence!! This talking, texting and driving, HAS to STOP!!! What is wrong with these people???
Posted by: Trip's a Paranoid Idiot and probably drives and texts | Oct 20, 2021 8:38:35 AM
The popular masses all drive, talk and text like idiots. It has got to stop.... but unfortunately, due to people like the first posters, it never will. Even if they do prevent texting while driving somehow in a phones software, there will always be people trying to bypass it as we have become a society of very lazy, self centered, its my god given right to text -- a-holes.
In Canada, it is illegal to be holding an electronic device while driving. The fine is hefty but people still do it anyway.
Posted by: joannie | Oct 20, 2021 9:23:52 AM
I don't own any tech items. What is all this huge hype about Blackberry, RIM, etc. People are just too tense, too hyper, too everything. Does anyone really enjoy their life anymore?? I DO!!
Posted by: Cailey | Oct 20, 2021 11:02:07 AM
Rule #1: Correlation DOES NOT equal causation. A dip in car crashes during a blackberry outage does not automatically mean that the dip in car crashes was CAUSED by the blackberry outage.
I don't know if you're aware of this, Jason, but just before the outage and drop in accidents, a famous football star in the UAE died while (supposedly) texting and driving. A campaign to end texting and driving has skyrocketed in popularity as a result, and that alone probably distorts the impact of the outage on accident rates.
Posted by: Abbie Balcom | Oct 20, 2021 12:39:57 PM
I have never counted on my BB as technology will never rule me. I have NEVER texted while driving, nor will. How many BB users got overly fumed when they could not text or read texts while driving and caused close calls or an accident? It does not matter what smart phone one owns, it can happen to anyone, anywhere or time. I will find some apps that are free, and thanks RIM for the thoughtfulness
Posted by: Timthe nailman | Oct 20, 2021 2:31:09 PM
How did the world survive before cell phones?
Posted by: Amanda Angel | Oct 20, 2021 5:55:24 PM
Not surprised at all. This is defiantly not some crap RIM made up. It's true. Here, I'll share a story. 5 days after my twin sister and I had our 11th birthday (our birthday is July 30th), on Friday, August 4th 2006 (I'm 16 now) my 18 year old brother (he had turned 18 less than a month before this) was in a car with two other friends. He was in the passenger seat. It was raining. An 18 wheeler swerved two lanes and totaled the car. My brother was dead. As was the driver. It was completely devastating, and I was so little, not young enough to be blissfully unaware, old enough to feel my heart shredding. And he was so young, not even an adult. Why? Why did this happen???? One: It was God's will, Two: It was raining, and even though nobody has ever told me I know that that 18 wheeler driver was distracted, probably on his phone. He was driving a damn 18 wheeler, in the pouring rain on his f***ing phone. And killed my brother. And caused me and my family unbearable pain. Pain that still hasn't gone away. RIP.
Huh, joannie, it's an amazing thing, that you don't "own any tech items" Interesting, really, how you manged to post and read this eh?
Don't text and drive. I own a BB, and am constantly on it. It's my life. And, this year I turned 16. I got my license. I got a car. I never text and drive. EVER. I am NEVER EVER EVER causing another family the pain that I went through. If you want to endanger yourself, by all means, go ahead! Ram yourself into a massive rock! But don't endanger another living thing. Not even a tree. I don't care what happens to the idiots of the world, I couldn't care about the idiots putting themselves in danger, even the idiots who kill themselves. I only care about those innocent people, those innocent families, those innocent little girls that will never get their heart back, because some idiot didn't think before they drove.
Posted by: Elmo | Oct 20, 2021 7:05:06 PM
OMG... little Amanda "ANGEL" dropping the F bomb and hoping people ram themselves into massive rocks. What a sweetheart !! And she also admits that she's constantly on her BB... but... and get this, she never texts and drives. Uhh... OK, sure, we'll believe that one. And Miss perfect is only 16 and already has a car. Whooppee... bet ya can't wait to hit drinking age and get the girls out on a "nighter" and we'll see what happens. And btw... about your opening birthday rant... who gives a rat's donkey ?? Text, Tweet, Twiddle and Diddle someone else with your inane teenage dribble.
Posted by: delles | Oct 20, 2021 7:49:34 PM
ai yi yi! Cool down kids!
We all know its illegal to text/dial and drive - but people are incapable of thinking about the consequences of their actions, so they go ahead and do it anyways. Just how it is.
Relax, take a deep breath, and flip the birdie at the next person that cuts you off while checking their facebook behind the wheel.
Just remember that common sense is highly uncommon and the least sensible action to make is the one most often made - instead of always being peeved at the gidgets, maybe you'll be pleasantly suprised when someone uses their signal light, or lets take that left turn instead of running the amber light.
Posted by: Ian | Oct 20, 2021 10:04:09 PM
How any can debate that its more dangerous than drinking and driving is an idiot. Ill gladly drive with someone who has had a few drinks over some one texting any day !!!! People who have had a few drinks and may blow over the ridiculours 0.05 number are at least paying attention to the task at hand. The people that are drunk drivers you will never get off the road , you can lower it to 0.00 they will always drive drunk. These texters though need to be slapped hard with fines and loss of cell phone use . Ive seen more people do it than i care to see . When i see it i honk and they always look up startled . Complete idiots and completely self absorbed. Sadly ive seen mothers texting with kids in the back. Its way worse than a DUI , way worse. Ask yourself how many cars are on the roads at 1 or 2 in the morning. Compared to during rush hours when texting seems to be prevalent ????
Posted by: me | Oct 20, 2021 10:27:15 PM
Elmo....I cannot believe you posted that.....how incredibly rude and insensitive.
Posted by: darren | Oct 20, 2021 11:18:36 PM
elmo , YOUR ARE AN IDIOT , YOU MUST BE A REDNECK , SHAME ON YOU , KARMA IS A BITCH !
Posted by: Rick | Oct 20, 2021 11:53:08 PM
@ Bill: You saw that while your life was flashing before your eyes. Well make it fair then, if your going to pull the truckers license you have to pull the 4 wheelers too. I drive truck and use a hands free as it's the law here, but very few cars I look down at in traffic are using it they have their phones up to their ears or typing while steering. There are bad apples in every group and you are the Idiot for lumping everyone in the same group.
Posted by: John | Oct 22, 2021 12:29:26 AM
@Rick, I read Bill's comments and nowhere does he state that ALL truckers' licenses should be pulled. He only mentions ONE TRUCK DRIVER. You, however, interpret his comments as an attack on all truck drivers, therefore you are the one "lumping everyone in the same group.
Posted by: Heather | Oct 23, 2021 8:55:35 PM
talking/texting while drive does have to stop. PEOPLE WHO TEXT WHILE DRIVING ARE DUMBASSES. I don't own a cellphone because I refuse to be sucked into that crap. I try to enjoy life to the fullest, even though I see the world for what it truly is.
Posted by: wow... | Oct 25, 2021 8:20:39 PM
holy. elmo i hope you burn in hell for saying that. asshole.
Posted by: Amanda Angel | Oct 25, 2021 8:29:34 PM
Elmo... your a total ass. I don't give a damn about people who endanger THEMSELVES. PERSONAL CHOICE DAMMIT.
And, sorry I can't help what my parents named me. My name is Amanda-Angel it's one full name, it's my real name. Now get over it.
Another thing: So what if I have a car and my license and I'm 16?! People who care THAT much have to get over themselves and peel their permanently closed eyes open. Take a look around the damn world. I have 7 siblings. Each of them got a car at 16, so why shouldn't I?
YEAH DUMBASS! I admitted I was on my bb all the time, but I said I don't when I'm driving, and that's the truth. Take it or leave it. Now, when I become of drinking age, you won't be peeling me off the highway. Bet you're one of those ass's that think they can get away with it. That's why you're so angry. I just hope that when we break into our tax dollars to peel your sorry ass off the highway, only you'll be dead and not another innocent person.
Now, I shall go "text tweet, twiddle and diddle with my insane teenage dribble"
At least I HAVE people to text tweet twiddle and diddle. I'm sorry that you're a heartless lonely ass.