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globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

An American teacher once got up and grabbed the phone from the Omani driver's hand while he was driving. Her contract wasn't renewed! Yes, it was funny until my brand new Renault was nearly t-boned by a guy in a jeep who was too busy on his phone!. I had to use all my defensive driving skills, along with the 4 wheel disc brakes to avoid a deadly collision. It was a close call for my wife and I. The car was also equipped with 8 airbags for just such an event! Soon after my term ended, the car was sold, and we departed!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

So... you think that the only texting drivers are in Oman? They are now in every country that has the technology. There are people killed every day in the US by texting drivers.

VS

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

Sad to say, I do see it in Canada too, but not to the extent of 5-10 years ago. People get the "message" when it hits them in the pocket! What I do see a lot more of in Canada are pedestrians with their faces glued to their smartphones crossing streets and walking in malls! it's as if they are in a "virtual world" where there are virtually no people!

toko · Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Posts: 24 Location: Hong Kong

Yes, people are killed everyday in the States by texting drivers, but the trend is to use blue tooth and speaker phone while driving...Omani drivers (and Saudi) seem to be glued to texting. I'm blaming the 'BB Ping' numbers that are written on the back fenders... Razz

It's a shame, but not surprising that her contract wasn't renewed. Perhaps there is more to the story than this one incident, though.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It is the young that text and drive... notoriously already the most easily distracted drivers... can you text by bluetooth? (I only have a dumb phone and never sent a text in my life... never had the need)

As far as I can see... bluetooth will be of little help except for some adults who will choose to talk rather than text. The young seem unable to actually speak into a phone...

VS

CANDLES · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:10 am Post subject:

The young cannot read or write, apart from texting and talking gibberish! Rolling Eyes

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

I would add "thinking" to that list too!

toko · Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Posts: 24 Location: Hong Kong

bahahaha! Now, now, grandpa...
I think the texting issue goes with the issue of a large number of Omani drivers disregarding the 'rules of the road' and respect for fellow drivers. The idea of texting is great, it avoids confrontation and you can choose when to reply. In some EFL countries, texting is a great tool in their English usage, and it bridges the gap between their formal education and contemporary, authentic speech. In Oman, another layer is added when you can 'text' the opposite sex and it gets flirty. In the KSA, guys frequently throw pieces of paper with their phone number at tables of women. The reason for texting in the middle east is completely different than why other cultures text. Ahh...it's a bag of problems.

Rolling Eyes

CANDLES · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:21 am Post subject:

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

I think people all over the world are attracted by the "convenience" and "immediacy" of the mobile phone. What people don't realize with the "smart phones" and their myriad applications, is that they are highly addictive. So people all over the world tend to keep them close to stay connected, even at risk of life and limb!

nicole2010 · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 25

This is a real problem in Oman. Most youth these days are using WhatsUp app, checking FB etc while in the car; it's beyond texting. Most have more than one phone and SIM card. There is no effective wide-spread campaign to counter this behaviour.

CANDLES · Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:58 am Post subject:

Same as in UK/USA, Middle East/India and the list goes on! Confused

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

Perhaps someone can come up with an app to disable mobile phones in all moving vehicles!

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

Guess what? A HS kid in Prince George, BC, is working on an app that will disable mobiles if the vehicle is going over 20kph. The call will be transferred to a hands free device instead! Nice work!

globebot · Joined: 20 Sep 2013 Posts: 76

I see that they have posted for teachers on "Serious Teachers!" Should I go or should I stay? Hay, hay, hay....