Millions of people text, talk or e-mail on their cell phones while driving—a recent survey finds that 71% of people between the ages of 18 and 49 admit they text or talk on the phone while they drive.
If you think you can call, text and drive at the same time, you cannot. That message you can’t wait to send could kill. Distracted driving is an epidemic that is sweeping through our country, claiming lives and destroying families.
California’s text-messaging law went into effect on January 1, 2009 making it illegal for drivers to use wireless devices to send, receive or read electronic files while on the road. I have been breaking the law since January 1, 2009. I don’t know how lucky I have been.
Yesterday’s Oprah Winfrey show was very sobering, to say the least. I just watched it on TiVo and I’m still shocked and moved to make a change.
One of the mother’s featured on the show said it best, “Get off the phone. Save a life. Don’t talk and drive,” she says. “You’ve got precious cargo in that car. Your life. Your children’s life. They are not worth a phone call, a text, an e-mail. It’s not worth it.” She lost her nine-year old daughter when an SUV hit her. Police say that the driver had recently finished a phone call at the time of the accident. “The driver said: ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t see her,'”
You are my precious cargo and today, I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now, I will do my part to help put an end to distracted driving by not texting or using my phone while I am driving. I will ask other drivers I know to do the same. I pledge to make a difference.
I encourage you to take this pledge too!
The best is yet to be.
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I just took the pledge! No more texting and driving for me ever!