We are all more than aware of the dangers that can be associated with texting and driving. According to 2020 NHTSA data, cell phone use or texting while driving was a factor in: 13% of the distracted driving accidents that resulted in fatalities. 9% of distracted driving injury crashes, or about 29,999 accidents in total (Jan 3, 2023). This statistic alone shows clearly that texting and driving is deadly. I know that one look down at our phones while we are behind the wheel can alter our lives or the lives of others in less than a second. Any distraction while behind the wheel can cause your vehicle to swerve off the road or into another vehicle which could damage your car, injure, or even worse, kill, yourself or others. Texting or using a device while operating a vehicle is irresponsible and we are all reasonable enough to know this. Texting and driving is no better than drunk driving, yet texting and driving happens every day. People lose their lives or the lives of loved ones every day because we are using our devices when we should be paying attention to what we are doing. We know better, we know the dangers, yet we still get in the car and read the text message or even worse respond to a message.
Many of our vehicles come with many bells and whistles that can be very distracting before you even bring your personal device into it. My family has had conversations about texting and driving. We have a family commitment to keep our phones out of our hands when we drive. When I enter my vehicle I always turn my radio to my favorite channel so that I will not be tempted to play with it during my trip.Then I give my phone one last check before I silence my notifications. Once my notifications are silenced, I put my phone in the passenger seat. My vehicle has a tracker from our insurance company that notifies the driver or anyone listed as a driver if you have your phone in your hand during your trip. I am sure I would not use my phone to text or anything else while driving, but knowing that someone could be notified if I do helps keep me accountable. My family also has other apps on our devices that record our trips and monitor driving habits. These apps also help me be more responsible. When I am driving alone and need to answer a text or call I simply find a safe place to pull over before I pick up my phone. If I miss the call or text I know that I can get to it later. Nothing is so urgent that it is worth the chance of getting into an accident. I always remind myself that if I get into an accident and the officer asks if I was using my phone, I want to be able to say my hands were free of any device. These simple steps keep me from using my phone for any reason while driving.
I have friends who will pick up their phones while driving, and I encourage them to think of the risks associated with using their device while behind the wheel. I always offer to send the message for them. If you do that enough the friends that you ride with know that you will help them out when they are driving. I do not want them to feel like they are being judged, but I do want them to feel like they are worthy and know that I care about their wellbeing and safety. They are worth too much to harm themselves or others because they need to use their device while driving. We all need to understand that texting and driving is unacceptable. Holding a phone while driving should never be seen as cool.
Personally, I choose not to hold my device while I am driving. Again, this is a promise our family has made to each other. I model this for my peers. Do what you know is right when you are behind the wheel even when no one is watching. We think that the chances are you could answer the text and be fine. If you read the statistics that isn’t the case. That is not a chance that I am willing to take. The life you save could be your own!