By Tod Shapiro and the Flatiron Hot! News Editorial Staff

Tuesday morning found Flatiron Public Plaza South the site of a pit stop for the Mayor’s “Vision Zero” campaign – the de Blasio-inspired effort to make NYC safer for both drivers and pedestrians. (See nyc.gov/visionzero) The NYC Dept. of Transportation, aided and abetted by co-sponsor AT&T, and ably spearheaded by the very eloquent Assistant Commissioner of Education and Outreach, Kim Wiley-Schwartz, had a crew out manning a booth and a demonstration calling attention to the hazards of texting and driving at the same time, and the very real dangers this bad habit causes for residents of the Flatiron District and the city.  Sure enough, the DOT staffers had rigged up a table with a TV monitor and a special driving simulator “video game style” that shows just what can happen if one mixes texting with driving – a big “no-no!”   As several intrepid Flatiron denizens took their turn at the simulator, on-lookers could see quite clearly through the real-time display just how difficult it is to pay attention and not cause havoc and harm on NYC’s busy roads!  While this was only a video game, the real thing could be truly frightening.  Ms. Wiley-Schwartz took some time to explain to Flatiron Hot! News just what could go wrong, and urged people to use their common sense to avoid problems.  So, as the Vision Zero slogan makes clear – “Texting and Driving … It Can Wait” – check out the video below to get the flavor of Tuesday’s proceedings in the Public Plaza.