We’re all guilty of trying to do much, especially when we’re in the car, in a rush to get somewhere. We eat on the go, make important phone calls, and yes, we even text and drive. Our lives are a constant rush of driving somewhere, rushing to the next appointment or obligation, and trying to do much at once. In the meantime, we sacrifice the safety of ourselves, our passengers, and everyone else on the road.
While teens are often thought of first when it comes to texting and driving, adult drivers are guilty of it, too. When we use our cell phone for any reason while driving, we’re 4 times as likely to be involved in a crash. In 2013, 341,000 auto accidents involved texting and driving.
For parents of new drivers, after you emphasize the need to wear a seat belt, never drink and drive, and to obey the speed limit, remind your kids never to text and drive. Best of all, if you really want the lesson to stick, lead by example. Don’t let your kids catch you texting and driving. While 98% of us say we know it isn’t safe, 49% of us admit to doing it. We can do better.
Every day 9 Americans die and 1,100 more are injured from an auto accident involving distracted driving, whether that’s eating lunch with one hand on the wheel or texting and driving.
No matter how important a text message seems, it isn’t as important as your life – or the lives of the people around you. It’s tempting to send a quick message or take a quick peek, especially when you’ve driven the same road for years. But please, before you text and drive, stop and remember what’s at stake.
Look in the rearview mirror and remember your children. Glance around the road and imagine the people in their cars on the road with you. No one’s life is worth a quick text message.
When the message just can’t wait, pull over, get off the road, and then send the message. Most of the time, it’s not so important we’re willing to stop. If it’s not that important, it can wait.
As a driver, you can safely take your attention away from the road for approximately two seconds. Just two! The average driver spends five seconds sending a text – more than double the safest amount of time. Because of the known dangers, and the increased risk to the safety of everyone on the road, 46 states have banned texting while driving. North Carolina is one of them.
The safety and well-being of everyone on the road is too important. When you’re speeding down the highway or simply cruising down a back road, put your cell phone down. Don’t text and drive. The lives of you and the people you love are at stake.
Thanks to Flickr user Michael Babcock for the image.