Distracted Driving

Since I've been home during the day for the last few weeks the TV has been on quite a bit more than usual. I'm caught up on current events in the news (very depressing) and all my favorite reruns. One show I flip to at 4pm is Oprah. I know, I know. But last week she aired something worth paying attention to- an entire hour dedicated to showing the dangers of distracted driving. I'm guilty of texting and talking on my phone when I'm driving. It's a habit (maybe even a borderline addiction) to use the time I have in my car to make phone calls and keep in touch with people. But not anymore.

Over 6000 people have been killed and many more injured due to texting or talking on cell phones while driving. Oprah interviewed families of people who were killed by distracted drivers and had people who were disabled or otherwise injured on the show to tell their stories.

I watched mothers and fathers talk about their children who were killed because someone thought a text or a call couldn't wait and was more important than paying attention to the road. Now that I have little Shannon I can't imagine how I'd go on if I lost her, especially to something as senseless as texting and driving. Think about this- how many times have you seen someone do something stupid while driving, only to look over and see they were on a phone? How many times have you done something stupid when on your phone?

Many public service announcements are being aired to inform about the consequences of texting and talking on your cell phone while driving. It reminds me when I was in grade school and states began passing laws mandating seatbelts or MADD (mothers against drunk driving) showing graphic images of mangled cars. It seems silly to us now that there WOULDN'T be a law requiring seatbelts or serious consequences for drunk driving. There are laws against texting and driving, but only in a handful of states and most people know it's tough to enforce. We see it as our right to talk on our phones or text while driving even though it's just like getting behind the wheel intoxicated.

Oprah is heading a campaign called No Phone Zone where you sign a contract that you will no longer text and drive. I haven't physically signed the paper, but now I keep my phone in the diaper bag in the back seat. There is no reason a phone call or text can't wait. I look in the backseat at my little girl and realize there is nothing more important than making sure I'm focused on keeping her and everyone around me safe by driving without any distractions.


So, if you call or text me and I don't respond, I'm probably driving so leave a message and know I'll get back to you as soon as I get home.