Blah... blah... blah.... BOOM!!!!! |
It’s fairly simple, and the bumper sticker I saw says it
all: STOP TALKING AND DRIVE!
Look, I’m as guilty as the next wild woman of multi-tasking
while driving. I admit that I have done
the rushed morning commute while putting on make-up, talking on the speaker
phone and drinking my tea, almost simultaneous, if truth be told. And yes, I do say that with some pride, but
let’s remember that pride goeth before a fall (or an accident). It is stupid, and I am in recovery. Hello, I’m Linda, and I’m a commuting eating-drinking-phoning-audiobook-reading multi-tasking fool.
While I like to think that I can do a gabillion things at
once, all with magnificent dexterity and perfection, mind you... sigh... I can’t.
But I’m learning how not to hang my head in shame when I say that, as I
realize that focusing on one thing whenever possible is always optimal to
accomplishing that task. Think about it. Don’t you hate
it when you’re trying to talk to someone and they’re looking around, texting or
answering a cell phone, performing another task, watching TV, etc.? It’s the society we are becoming – and it’s
not good. I’ve written before that
giving someone your FULL ATTENTION when speaking with them is a gift, a very
valuable gift that tells them they are special and you are completely
interested in what they have to say to you right now, at that moment in
time.
Translate that into your everyday driving experience. Do you have a passenger in the car? Don’t you want to give them the gift of safety
by focusing on the road? Obviously I’m
not saying you don’t speak with them, or turn and give them your full attention
then and there, but you know what I’m saying here. Don’t jeopardize your safety, their safety
and the safety of the person you won’t clobber head on! Seriously, ladies, is that phone call truly
necessary? Can it wait 10 minutes? If not, pull your busy booty off the road and
talk then. This phenomenon of the compulsive
obsession with car phones is only a few decades old at best. There are actually those of us who remember
when a phone in the car wasn’t even an option!
(Yup, I’m THAT old.) Every wild
woman should have a mandatory cell phone (and Triple AAA) for her travels. But use it for emergencies only (just like
Triple AAA), not for the random call about your day, your investments, dinner
that night, plans for the weekend, how the boyfriend or hubs and/or kids are
working your last nerve, etc. Tell your family/friends
that you won’t be picking up the phone while driving, but will get back to them
as soon as you pull into wherever it is you’re going. Don’t talk, don’t text,
just drive. You can ALWAYS pull over and
talk.
I want you to check out this article – the stats are a real
eye-opener for those of us who are addicted to multi-tasking in the car. It’s called “Distracted Driving… Why the
Devices That Are Supposed to Make Us Safer Do Just the Opposite” by David
Ropeik on the www.bigthink.com
website. Look at this table to see how
distracted driving hampers your safety! Here is the link:
I just love his astute pickup that Jim Morrison sang about
safe driving: “Keep your eyes on the
road, your hands upon the wheel.” Could
NOT resist taking that line! Too
funny! I know, it will be an ear worm
all day and you know you’re gonna be singing it at some point today when you
get behind the wheel!
Seriously, though, as part of your physical fitness routine,
please consider eliminating cell phone usage while you’re spinning your wheels…
at least your auto wheels. Exercise
restraint while you focus on safe driving.
It could save your life, and the lives of others.
Blessings,
I learned and lived all this and more when I worked for Highway Traffic Safety. If the public could see some of the photos and videos we were privy to, regarding the consequences/results of choosing to talk/text/eat/read newspapers/apply makeup, etc., they would be horrified and no doubt, more than happy to JUST DRIVE.
ReplyDeleteThere are some free phone apps out there that you can download that will, when you set them up, send an outgoing message to someone texting you while you're driving, saying you are driving and will get back to them later. However, some don't always work with certain phones. It's kind of hit and miss. But worth checking into.
Some great reminders/warnings here!