I'm probably a teen's worst nightmare when it comes to driving: my mantra to my own children when they were of legal age to get their permit (and, later, their license):
A car in the hands of a driver is a loaded weapon.
They understand the depth and breadth of this truth from losing a 17-year-old friend in a tragic accident a few years ago; another beautiful young friend lost her arm just last year. I can think of half a dozen friends between the three of them who've been in wrecks as recent as two weeks ago…and my own babygirl called one night with words that froze my blood: "I'm okay mom but…."
Shudders.
As a mom, one of the hardest seasons to endure is the "learning how to drive" season. Perhaps The Hardest Thing Of Them All, though, is the first time they make a solo drive. The minutes between home and "there" feel like tortuous hours. The gracious advent of cell phones afford us a peace of mind our parents didn't have–they can easlily let us know when they've arrived.
The inherent danger associated with driving–especially inexperienced teen drivers who cannot understand ALL OF THE THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG–is why I tell my own "I will snap you like a twig if I find out you're texting and driving." They'll lose their phone, they'll lose driving privileges…and they'll lose my trust in their judgment.
Here's the worst part: I've been guilty of doing this very thing I rail against.
Someone should snap ME like a twig!
Just this week I was driving 65 mph on the interstate when a four-car collision happened in front of me; I didn't see the beginning but I saw a red car spinning and smoking across four lanes of traffic, another silver car with airbags deployed and a shatterd windshield, and two drivers already to the shoulder, both screaming into their cell phones. THE CAR SPUN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, and I, together with each of the cars in their respective lanes, stopped cold (fishtailing) on the interstate!
It scares the ever-living daylights to think about what if I had been texting and driving.
At a minimum it would have been a five-car collison.
When Verizon told their team of bloggers about how they were teaming up with other carriers for the It Can Wait campaign to discourage texting and driving, I knew I had to share the details with my readers.
And beg you to take the pledge. I did, and I agree with its sentiment: "NO text is worth the risk."
Teens aren't the only ones guilty of texting and driving; EVERY time I'm on the road I see it. And then I find myself channeling my inner Barney Fife and I want to roll down my window and scream "CITIZEN'S ARREST! CITIZEN'S ARREST!!"
Wait. That wasn't Barney….it was Goober. No…GOMER! It was Gomer Pyle!
But I digress. Forgive me.
I don't text and drive anymore; I've tried voice commands but I'm still distracted when I see what my cell phone interprets for my words. Sometimes what it comes up with is beyond laughable and possibly prosecutable under the law! Mercy!
Ninety-five percent of my readers don't comment to my blog (and if you're one who does, you know you're my favorite, right? You emailers, too 😉 ) but I'm asking you PLEASE comment to let me know if you signed the It Can Wait Pledge.
Comment by telling me what prompted you to do so; let me know how you're sharing the campaign with others. I know a lot of you don't blog, so are you emailing it to your friends? Sharing on Facebook? Pinning to a board that shares important information (or parenting tips or teenager info)? Printing out the flyers available on the campaign site to share with your kids' high school when it starts back up?
If you're on Twitter, feel free to cut/paste the following.
- Take the pledge to stop texting and driving—I did! http://bit.ly/14ZPaLD #vzwvoices #VZWA #itcanwait
- It CAN wait: No text is worth dying for—take the pledge http://bit.ly/14ZPaLD #vzwvoices #VZWA #itcanwait
- #Verizon is taking a stand against texting while driving. Join in. http://bit.ly/14ZPaLD #vzwvoices #VZWA #itcanwait
And if you're willing to BLOG about this, even if it's in a round-up or link list, please use the graphic on this post and link below; if there are at least 10 who join in by Friday, May 31, I'll give away a FANtastic prize (once I figure out what it is, at least $25 out of my own pocket. It's a small way to say thank YOU for helping to save lives…I don't think that's an understatement.)
What say you…are you in? Will you sign the pledge and let me know you did? I sure hope so! Memorial Day and weekend is when we remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country. Isn't it the perfect time for Everyday People Like Us to do a small thing that might have a powerful influence…and maybe protect someone you love?
I am most certainly willing to take the pledge! (Does admitting that I’ve never sent a text in my life make that a hollow promise???) Anyway, I totally agree that no text OR call is that important.
Okay. I took the pledge! And I have definitely been guilty of this, more than once, in the past. It’s so stupid, though. And I go BALLISTIC when my truckdriver husband admits to doing it – so why is it okay for me? (Um, it’s NOT.)
Thanks for sharing. I signed the pledge and shared on fb.
Sooo many drivers come over the yellow line–and we live in the mountains w/many curves. Riding the motorcycle with people texting is frightening. Driving is not a video game.
I took the pledge and made a special pin on my pinboard. This is so important!! Thanks for blogging about it!!
I took the pledge and will be blogging about it. I semi-blogged about SLTr (Stop Light Texters) last night who just make me want to scream.
I’m taking the pledge and telling my 17 year old to do the same. Sharing on FB too!
I took the pledge and shared on facebook!
I took the pledge and yes, I have been guilty too. 🙁 such a terrible example for my children who will be driving before I can blink twice.
I took the pledge –
I was at the grocery store and my husband called….I said, “I’ll call you right back.” When I left the store, I was 5 blocks from the church to pick up my kids from youth group. I went ahead and called my husband back.
I pulled into the church parking lot and sat, still chatting. Suddenly, there was a knock on my window and a cop was standing there…. fortunately, he only gave me a warning and told me to get a “hands-free device”. But, after that encounter, I swore to NEVER use my phone in the car again. It stays in my purse on the floor.
I’m in. Will blog it next week. <3
I signed the pledge. I then e-mailed tons of friends and asked them to sign the pledge and tell others young drivers to do the same!
Sad thing is I have done a little texting and driving. usually a start at a red light& then continue. Do it on two lane back roads only! Won’t any more!
Signed the pledge. Shared on FB and Twitter. It’s so insidious the way such stupid choices can creep in. First it’s a quick text at a stop light, then it’s on a quiet, residential street, and so on. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong. Truly, NO text is worth someone’s life. NO MORE.
Yes yes!! We have a new policy – if the kids catch me texting and driving or looking at my phone while the car is even turned on, I pay them each a $3 fine. And I am sad to say they have made some money that way. But it really raises all of our awareness of a VERY bad habit. My 14 year old watches everything in the car, dying for the day he is handed some keys and wheels so it is a very high priority for us right now to model safe behavior. Thank you for the reminder!!
Our texting and driving lesson came in the form of a science fair project. My 12 year old played Mario Kart on the wii. He chose a course and a kart and practiced until he was able to do it with good speed and minimal crashing. His average race time with no distractions was 2 minutes and 4 crashes. He then raced while eating, while talking to me, while hand writing a message, and while texting. I kept track of how many times he crashed (and just touching a wall or going up on the sidewalk counted as a crash – as it would in real life). The texting races were the worst: His average race time was 5 minutes and 65 crashes! He was amazed at the results, but the lesson dug deep. Any time I’m even tempted to look at my phone in the car he says, “Remember my project?”
I admit I do look at my phone at red lights on occasion, but I don’t reply until I’m parked. If my kids are with me and a message comes in, I have one of them read it to me and if a reply is needed, I’ll have them type it in.