Distracted driving
When was the last time you noticed someone driving erratically, only to pass him or her and discover that — of course — the driver was talking on a cell phone while driving? It seems to happen all the time.
Until recently, I was an avid user of my cell phone in the car. This began when I lived in the Northeast, when I could catch up with friends and family during long drives. Since I have become a parent, it seemed like the car is the only place I end up talking on the phone. Sometimes I’m alone in the car, squeezing in as many things as humanly possible while my son is at school. Sometimes my son is in the car and it’s a short call to his dad to see when he’s coming home, to my parents to see what time the game is on or to the mom hosting playgroup letting her know we’re running late. I’m not really a texter, and actually have always really liked talking on the phone.
If you have younger kids, you know, whether you are on your phone or not, you are probably distracted. Children requesting snacks, needing dropped toys, wanting a certain song on the CD player, asking the same question over and over AND OVER while you are trying to find which exit you were supposed to be taking to get to the new indoor playground. Add to that disrupted sleep from the night before and the fact that you left your coffee on the kitchen counter….and, what mom ISN’T distracted while driving?
For the last six months or so, I’ve been trying to cut back on talking on the phone in my car. Then, there were a few times when I knew my driving was compromised by my phone conversation. But still, I just told myself I would be extra alert while I was talking and driving.
Then, someone posted a video from a recent show of Oprah’s on distracted driving. In it, she encourages her viewers to make their cars a No Phone Zone. See the videos here (if you haven’t already) and you’ll understand why. For one, talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples your risk of an accident. The families who had lost loved ones who pointed out that no phone call is worth a life particularly resonated with me.
So I’m taking the Pledge.
Do you use your phone in the car? Why or why not? Do you (or will you) allow your children to use their phones while driving?
Written by: Nicole Basham
February 9th, 2010 at 6:13 am
It was much easier to give up than I’d feared. I feel much better–emotionally–that I’m focusing on my driving instead of my todo list.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
i pretty seriously dislike talking on the phone in general , and these days i drive pretty slowly. i also almost never talk on the phone while driving; i have become a super cautious driver since i became a parent.
also, i usually have my cell tucked into a pocket in my diaper bag, which is behind my seat and out of reach.
i also will take this pledge, but i have to admit that it’s not much of a stretch for me.
i think i might be really happy if phones disappeared any everyone was forced to email or send smoke signals…that’s how much i like the phone and talking on it