Whenever I see reports of head-on crashes these days I immediately think one thing – texting while driving.  Now I know the accident could have happened because of a thousand other things, but more and more I suspect texting played a part.

Texting annd driving has become the harbinger of doom in my mind.  I have become increasingly more aware of how often it occurs over the past year and decidely more frightened of other drivers who do not seem to appreciate how dangerous it is.  A couple of weeks ago a 29 year old gentlemen told me that he was “good at texting and driving” – that I need not worry that he does it.  Well, I guess I didn’t have to worry about it unless I was concerned about his well-being or the well-being of everyone else whose path he would cross on his long trip home…so yeah, I worried – a lot.

I realize I have become a nag about texting and driving and frankly, I am okay with that.  Let me reiterate the startling factoid that should cause all drivers to immediately cease and desist texting and driving:

Those who text and drive are 23 times more likely to get in an accident.

Yes…tis’ true…I am afraid of those of you that are still out there texting and driving…indeed, I am afraid for you as well.  And it isn’t just texting and driving – it is reading texts or emails while driving as well.  Accidents happen in seconds and reaction time takes seconds…when you are distracted you have relinquished your ability to react and potentially may cause yourself or others to be injured or dead.  Did you catch that – injury or death – just for a silly communication that could have waited.

When I was in California (which already has legislation regarding hands-free cell usage in the car), I reiterated time and time again to my brother how important it was not to read messages while driving.  My sister-in-law Narin taped a page from a magaizine about a teenager’s death that was precipitated by texting and driving to his steering wheel to further emphasize my point. I liked that approach so much that I took a photo of it and I encourage you to do the same thing with the people you care about who don’t fully appreciate how dangerous distracted driving can be.

Texting and driving, looking at texts and emails while driving, and distracted driving generally has proven to be deadly.  If you care about yourself, others in the car or those who will be left with caring for your broken body or mourning your loss – don’t be a distracted driver.  No message you could ever receive while driving is more important than the message I have shared with you today – distracted drivers maim and kill themselves and others…please stop this dangerous behavior.

Day four hundred of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C