(Source: CGTN)

As cellphone technology becomes more developed and in tandem, smartphone usage increases, activities such as texting are taking a dangerous turn across China. Phone use while driving has become a new menace on the road, increasing the risk of traffic accidents. Some of the scences you may find disturbing.

We know the dangers of drunk driving. And here's a new warning, phone use while driving is just as bad as drunk-driving. A study finds that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 23 times.  

This bus driver is a prime example. Within a few seconds of distraction on his phone, he crashed into a truck. And look here, a taxi turning left. This motorist, who is looking at his phone, drove right into it. And this guy, busy making phone calls, didn't notice a child was walking towards his car. Luckily, the kid was fine.

The lack of care is prevalent in today's society, with more than 60% of drivers confessing to driving while distracted on their cell phones. We hit the streets to see it for ourselves.

"I was just texting for business. Something happened, I needed to contact my company," said a Guangzhou motorist.

In just ten minutes, we caught one after another. People using their cellphones while waiting for the light to turn green. Mr. Gu was looking at his phone while driving during the winter dusk when he hit Mrs. Huang. She was taking a walk along the streets with two of her friends.

"I took out my phone for just a few seconds. I didn't think something like this would happen," Gu said.

But a moment’s distraction can wreck the lives of others forever.

"I want to apologize to her family. Because of my carelessness, a girl lost her mother and a man lost his wife," he said.

Mr. Gu was sentenced to 10 months in prison, plus economic compensation of nearly 200 thousand dollars.

The consequences of this story may make you want to put your phone down. A regulation in China has made using cellphones while driving illegal. Police say phone use while driving is a big problem.

"Using a mobile phone while driving can cause devastating consequences," saud a police officer.

It seems that cracking down on cellphone usage is the way forward in ensuring safety on the roads. If a person driving presents a risk to others on the roads, there should be law in place to dissuade and penalize that risky behavior.