Last month, I announced my participation in the “It Can Wait” campaign designed to promote awareness at how dangerous it is to text and drive. I honestly don’t understand why people feel the need to become even more distracted as they drive. So, to highlight the dangers of texting (and driving), I decided to enlist the help of my youngest daughter to dramatize how truly distracting texting and driving is. Think of the video below as my Public Service Announcement (PSA) against texting and driving.
Texting in general is distracting…even if you are JUST doing that. You lose touch with things that are around you, ignore people who are talking to you, bump into things as you walk down the street. And when you get behind the wheel? Forget about it!
The video below is, obviously, an exaggeration, but in some ways it is not. (The video is also available directly on YouTube here.)
[youtube http://youtu.be/vcbQJBeDz_k]
An important lesson that I’m trying to teach my pre-driving children is that when you drive, you are already overloaded with information. You have to pay attention to a huge number of things. Even speaking on the speaker phone (hands-free) can cause your brain to be more focused on the conversation than on the road and your surroundings. If you throw a smartphone into the mix when you are driving, AND try to respond to a text, you have moved away from even a remote chance at being a safe driver.
AT&T is doing a great job trying to promote how dangerous this activity is. One way they are doing it is by requesting photos and short social media clips from a variety of people either who have been affected by this distracted driving or by bloggers who are active in the community. Just this past weekend, they posted the following photo of me and 2 of my kids on their Instagram account. (You can see more pictorial stories on their account.)
So, I ask you, is it really worth responding to a text, knowing that by looking away from the road for just a second can cause your reaction time to be incredibly reduced? That second or two of distraction could end a child or adult’s life, or severely cripple them for life. It’s not worth it.
Disclosure Text : I was paid/compensated by AT&T and/or its affiliates or PR/Marketing firms to write this article. All opinions within this article are my own and are not subject to the editorial review from any 3rd party. More information can be found in my About page as well as here.
HTD says: Leave that smartphone in your pocket or purse or even better, just turn it off while you drive!
