Friday, February 26, 2010

Texting and Driving

Do you text and drive? Has this resulted in your heart stopping a few times because you’ve almost run off the side of the road? According to a study done by the University of Utah, cell phone distractions slow a driver’s reaction as much as a blood alcohol level of .08 percent. Slower reaction times result in drivers to cause four times as many accidents (NHTSA). According to Mark Keel, who oversees the state’s troopers as director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, “…a national safety study recently… said that for every six seconds a person is texting while driving, their eyes are off the road four-and-a-half seconds,”. That single statistic scares the life out of me. Think about how far a person traveling at 65 miles per hour can go in those four-and-a-half-seconds. How many people are they endangering because they couldn’t wait to send or check an incoming text? Don’t believe me??? Check out this short YouTube video and see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDb-15hAtxY .


If after watching that video you still feel you won’t be able to resist checking those incoming text messages, check out this new alternative. “DriveSafe.ly is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone.” (http://www.drivesafe.ly/). My husband tested out this application last night, in the safety of our home. He sent himself an email and within 30 seconds his Blackberry was reciting the email back to us. Now we have no excuse to take our eyes off the road. No urgent texts or emails will be missed.


Please share the YouTube link with all those you care about, as my friend shared it with me. Let’s work together to get our roads safer for everyone.

19 comments:

sheila said...

Yes I've seen that and sent it to my kids too. I don't text and drive. I can barely DIAL and drive, lol

Anonymous said...

I will have to send the link to my daughter, who texts way too much in the car. I only send fast texts if I am at a light or parked. I don't read them until I have stopped driving.

Shelley said...

I NEVER text and drive..or even use my cell while driving. Very dangerous! I'm making sure I stress this fact to my 16yo daughter, who is now driving. Great post!

Visiting from "Friday Follow"..I'm your newest follower! Love for you to come visit me!

Have a great weekend!
~Shelley @ Shelley's Swag

Vodka Logic said...

I have seen that video and shown it to my children.. a great post.

TamsJewelry said...

Hello,very nice to meet Ya! Happy Friday follow.

Kel said...

Thanks to you all for stopping by. I'm glad that most of you have seen the video and that I could share it with others! Happy Friday!

everyday mom of one said...

I hate texting and driving even people that talk and drive without bluetooth scare me. I think cell phones are taking our lives over a little too much to the point where it is unsafe and we can't take a minute of peace.

Thanks for visiting my blog:)

Unknown said...

I dont drive while texting. That is a neat application.

I'm following you from Friday Follow!
Heather
http://www.ratherbechangingdiapers.com/

Unknown said...

Friday following back! Thank you for following me!

Hattie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Following you back! I always get onto my husband for being on his cell in the car. That green bean recipe sounds good too. I'm gonna have to try that!!!

Anonymous said...

Very good advice! I have to admit to checking txt's while at red lights - but as soon as it is green the phone goes down.

There is supposed to be a law here in PA soon about not holding any cellular device while driving - a pretty good law if you ask me, but I am gonna have to get myself a bluetooth!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

I never text and drive. It drives me nuts when my sister does it. It's so bad.

Thank you fro stopping by and following me.

CM said...

Texting and driving is illegal in many states, not to mention unsafe. Thanks for this reminder!

Following you back. Nice to meet you :-)

furygirl3132 said...

Great article, thanks for sharing. I'm following you from Friday Follow,have a great weekend!

Eloise
Mommy2TwoGirls
http://mommy2twogirls.blogspot.com/

Krajcimama said...

Found you from Friday Follow - definately going to follow your blog!

Texting and driving is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves with DH. I get so mad when he does it.

I'm going to send him the app in hopes he'll start using that on his BB instead!

Thanks!

Janene
Perfecting Imperfection
http://imperfectionperfectly.blogspot.com

Mandi Miller said...

Texting while driving is bad... I don't do it especially when my daughter is with me. Way too dangerous!
I'm your newest follower!!!

Unknown said...

Thanks for following me, I am now follow you! Happy Friday Follow!

Cakeblast said...

That app. sounds great for a lot of people.. and I liked that the video wasn't nearly as graphic as another that I watched a few months ago.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm now following you too :)

Kel said...

Thanks to everyone for reading!

Drive Safely!! :)