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Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

theatlanticwire.com

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Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#2
As Paul Graham noticed earlier, computers became something like TV on the working desktop, smartphones are even a more danger. I hope in my lifetime I'll see something new to displace smartphones/tablets and make them look old like TV now, and be less dangerous and less addictive.

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#3
Not to be overly suspicious, but it may be a hyped-up or cherry-picked statistic. The two sources in the article are the Chief of Dubai Police, and the director of the Abu Dhabi Police traffic department, who didn't give any further details; the paper itself is state run.

"Two weeks ago, Abu Dhabi Police announced a campaign against motorists who use their phones while at the wheel." ... "Gen Tamim likewise warned that Dubai Police will soon be using electronic evidence against drivers who cause accidents while using their smart devices." ... "The precise statistics for traffic accidents in the two emirates this week were not revealed to The National."

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#5
post #3

Not to be overly suspicious, but it may be a hyped-up or cherry-picked statistic. The two sources in the article are the Chief of Dubai Police, and the director of the Abu Dhabi Police traffic department, who didn't give any further details; the paper itself is state run. "Two weeks ago, Abu Dhabi Police announced a campaign against motorists who use their phones while at the wheel." ... "Gen Tamim likewise warned th…

Cities compile detailed statistics based on every reported traffic incident, I honestly wouldn't expect anybody else to have numbers as accurate as theirs for something like this.

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#6
That genuinely probably is true and is not a cherry picked statistic.

I reckon it's due to the highway drifters, who are reckless idiots. They are probably using their blackberries to organise drifting events which inevitably result in accidents.

Here's to give you an idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUTlKaliW90

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#7
post #2

As Paul Graham noticed earlier, computers became something like TV on the working desktop, smartphones are even a more danger. I hope in my lifetime I'll see something new to displace smartphones/tablets and make them look old like TV now, and be less dangerous and less addictive.

Can you imagine something as popular but less addictive? I wish I could...

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#8
post #7
post #2

As Paul Graham noticed earlier, computers became something like TV on the working desktop, smartphones are even a more danger. I hope in my lifetime I'll see something new to displace smartphones/tablets and make them look old like TV now, and be less dangerous and less addictive.

Can you imagine something as popular but less addictive? I wish I could...

No I can't :) But some societies have quit drinking hard or smoking, so getting off a widely accepted addiction is possible.

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#9
post #8
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you imagine something as popular but less addictive? I wish I could...

No I can't :) But some societies have quit drinking hard or smoking, so getting off a widely accepted addiction is possible.

And that happened because those things have some very visible bad effects (images of cancer all over packages in Europe) and even then there are like 30% smokers on my country. Assuming shock and visible pain are the only way to end such a popular addiction it's going to be tough to end our digital ones.

But at least you showed it's possible, that's something!

Re: Abu Dhabi Traffic Accidents Dropped 40% During the BlackBerry Outage

#10
As a person who has never texted (seriously) I've started to notice an alarming number of people holding and looking at their phones while they drive in my town.

Makes me afraid to use the bicycle lane anymore.

I sure hope police/insurance companies are looking at cellphone records after accidents to fine people appropriately for this kind of behavior.

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