Texting while driving really hits home...

[Disneylover79]

My mom called me yesterday and said that one of the guys that works in the emergency room where we work was killed after he was texting and speeding down the road and then flipped his car and landed 6 feet up into a tree....I can't beleive that this very smart (medical wise) person has been taken.

I wanted to share that texting while driving really can kill...


http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12195696

 

[Rora]

This is so sad.

I am guilty of texting while driving despite so many close calls. I really need to stop.

Thanks for sharing this story- even though it is a tragic one- sometimes we need a wake up call.

 

[LoraJ]

It shouldn't take someone dying to realize how dangerous it is to text while driving.

Someone's life is way more important than a text saying "b home soon."

Rora, I am sorry, but it really angers me that you know how it impairs your driving yet you continue to do it. Why is whatever text you send more important than a life? Why can't that text wait? Why can't you make a call hands free instead of texting?It's no different than being totally drunk and saying you are okay to drive.

 

[JESW]

This is so sad.

I am guilty of texting while driving despite so many close calls. I really need to stop.

Thanks for sharing this story- even though it is a tragic one- sometimes we need a wake up call.

Please - what on earth is so important to text that you need to risk your life and the life of others???

Please stop and think about what you are doing!!!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I am sorry your mother's friend died but I am grateful that he did not kill some innocent person/people along with himself.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm sorry for his friends and family, but like a pp said thank goodness he didn't kill some innocent family because he was doing something so dangerous.

I'll never understand the uncontrolabe urge to text when you drive, do you really need to be in constant contact with someone to the point where it endangers your life and others? Whatever you have to talk about can wait, and if it can't then pull off the freakin road

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

I am very thankful that most of the roads we drive on have no cell service! Living in rural VT we don't get cell service many places, and I was never happy about it until now. I don't get why people do it!! It angers me. It's not worth taking someone elses life over!! Stupid thing to do, and I don't feel bad for someone who did it to themselves. I'm glad he didn't kill someone else!

 

[ICF]

you would really have to be stupid to text and drive....there is nothing that important to text to somebody. If you want to let someone know you are heading home or running late, call (or text) before you start the drive home not while heading down the round.

Dont text and drive while trying to drive....its just not worth it.

In this case, I'm glad he only killed himself and not other innocent people due to his stupidity.

 

[KimR]

What I don't understand is that those same people who think texting while driving is perfectly ok would be outraged at the thought of someone driving after having a few drinks. Personally, I think DWT is worse because there is no gray area there.

 

[eliza61]

Please - what on earth is so important to text that you need to risk your life and the life of others???

Please stop and think about what you are doing!!!!!

I don't think its a matter of thinking some thing is important. I think its more that every one feels they are a safe driver and they can handle it.

I don't text and drive but I gotta tell you, many times you'll catch me trying to eat a burger and fries, rummage through my purse and find a song on my ipod while driving.

 

[eliza61]

What I don't understand is that those same people who think texting while driving is perfectly ok would be outraged at the thought of someone driving after having a few drinks. Personally, I think DWT is worse because there is no gray area there.

It is worse. AAA did a study that if you drink and drive you are 4X's as likely to get into an accident.

If you text and drive you are 8X's as likely to get into an accident.

 

[PaulaSue]

Very Sad

 

[KimR]

Another thing that scares the hell out of me is the fact that it is so rampant. The thought of drunk drivers on the road is scary enough. But - not only are there fewer people drinking and driving, but those who do are typically out and about later at night and on the weekends. On the other hand, I see erratic drivers with cell phones everywhere, all the time. Everyone does it (not just texting, but talking on the phone and not paying attention to the road), and it is acceptable. It's not stigmatized the way drunk driving is, although it should be.

 

[MommyMcQueen]

It is very sad that another life was lost to this.

I was driving on Monday night with my 2 kids in the car (going to grandma's house for my son's 4th birthday) and we were almost hit by a lady texting. We are are a 4-way top and she was to my right - I had the right of way to go first. I saw her pull up and could tell she was texting, so I very slowly crept out, I saw her look up and look straight ahead - never looked left or right AT ALL, and then she starting going into the intersection, still texting away. I hit my brakes and the horn as loudly as I could and she suddenly looked up and looked around, she was in the middle of the intersection already. If I had gone regular speed into the intersection she would have been into my passenger side.

Really makes me furious that people think they have the right to put my childrens lives in danger to send a stupid text message.

 

[eliza61]

Another thing that scares the hell out of me is the fact that it is so rampant. The thought of drunk drivers on the road is scary enough. But - not only are there fewer people drinking and driving, but those who do are typically out and about later at night and on the weekends. On the other hand, I see erratic drivers with cell phones everywhere, all the time. Everyone does it (not just texting, but talking on the phone and not paying attention to the road), and it is acceptable. It's not stigmatized the way drunk driving is, although it should be.

It's the way we view the two things. People will readily admit that getting plastered leaves them impared but multi-tasking is looked upon as a "good" trait.
You get extra Kudos if you can make a call, sell a house, eat your lunch all on the way home.
I know real estate agents who use their cars as their office. They make it a point to return all their messages while driving.
We like the fact that we can call home, get the grocery list, call dh etc etc all while we are driving.
So in order to stigmatize it people would have to admit they can get 12 things done at the same time and that's not going to happen.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

It's no different than being totally drunk and saying you are okay to drive.

I'm also going to say that texting and driving is worse. At least the drunk driver is impaired -- not in his right mind. A texter is making the decision to endanger lives while sober.

Don't text and drive. Period.

 

[MELSMICE]

How sad. Texting while driving is so dangerous. I've sat in a parking lot to text, but will not get on the road until the "conversation" is over.

 

[Rora]

Rora, I am sorry, but it really angers me that you know how it impairs your driving yet you continue to do it. Why is whatever text you send more important than a life? Why can't that text wait? Why can't you make a call hands free instead of texting?It's no different than being totally drunk and saying you are okay to drive.

Please - what on earth is so important to text that you need to risk your life and the life of others???

Please stop and think about what you are doing!!!!!

You both are absolutely right. There's positively no reason to text and drive. Why do I do it? I don't even know. But I am going to stop.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

You both are absolutely right. There's positively no reason to text and drive. Why do I do it? I don't even know. But I am going to stop.

Thank you, Rory.

And your police-officer (?) fiance probably thanks you as well. Ticketing one's spouse isn't good for a relationship.

 

[R and C's momma]

I openly admit, I used to do it.

It's illegal in Minnesota -- but that's not all that stops me. It's the thought of leaving my husband, my kids, and the rest of my family over something foolish -- and in all honesty -- selfish.

Unfortunately it's not just texting that's the problem. The smart phones out now make it far too easy to want to check in on FB, what's playing at the movies, or open a new email. All at the touch of an app.