A Deadly Consequence - Texting & Driving at the same time!



Teen Texting and Driving
Published September 25, 2010
Source: http://www.dolighan.com/



Tim Dolighan makes a powerful statement with this cartoon by addressing the possibility of the final outcome of a female teen driver, behind the wheel of a moving car, who is texting on her cell phone to a friend while trying to keep her eyes on the road, the cell phone, and her passenger. Dolighan is targeting one specific group that appears to have the highest frequency of distraction—female teens. Female teens are often mentioned as the guilty party and the main subject in many stories such as the article featured in the London Free Press on October 7, 2010 (http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/10/06/15609411.html), the video released on You Tube on August 25, 2009  (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E) and various articles where the “person” is later referenced as “she.”  

In this single frame cartoon published in Canadian newspapers on September 25, 2010, both the text and visual provides the message, however, the visual itself has the main influence for persuasion.  The graphic image of the Grim Reaper symbolizes the imminent fate of the driver; he is waiting for the moment she causes an accident but doesn’t want to add to her distraction, which is supported by the Grim Reaper’s response “don’t let me distract you”—he is trying to dissuade her from reckless behaviour behind the wheel.

The comic has a serious tone to it and creates a powerful impact on readers by coinciding with the recent publication of statistics citing the increasing number of distracted teens charged with careless or dangerous driving and causing deadly accidents, specially in parts of North America where cell phone usage is banned while driving (Ontario passed this legislation Feburary 2010). The characters and setting are very realistic—we see it everyday while driving to and from school or work on a busy four lane street.  We pass a car with a young person driving below the speed limit and, with a sideways glance, we discover the driver is conversing on a cell phone and is not paying attention to their surroundings. Sometimes, there are passengers in the car, which is depicted by the Grim Reaper, who adds to the driver’s distraction.