Please Don’t Kill My Family Today!

It is dangerous, illegal, and has become an epidemic. Nearly half of teenage and adult drivers admit that they have done it.

Despite campaigns to try to discourage it, laws to prohibit it, and more, texting is still one of the most dangerous distractions for our nation’s drivers. Accustomed to spending almost every waking hour glued to our smartphones, it is often hard to resist the urge to check a text, no matter what we are doing. You think – it will only take a second; you are a careful driver.

Consider this:

You are driving the kids to school before heading off to work. You are traveling approximately 40 miles per hour when another car approaches from the opposite direction. As the vehicle approaches you, the driver gets a text. Is it ok with you if he checks the message or types a response? What if you are stop at a traffic light and the driver behind you looks down to Snapchat or post on Facebook? Is that acceptable to you?

Studies have found that the risk of an auto accident is 23 times higher than if a driver was not texting. Some studies have even shown that a texting driver is just as dangerous as a drunk driver.

It seems so obvious, that texting and driving don’t mix, yet many people are still not convinced that their life, as well as the lives of others are at risk each and every time they drive while distracted. While a majority of Americans admit that it is dangerous to text and drive, in a culture that focuses on more screen time than face time, it’s still a behavior that people cannot shake, according to a new survey provided exclusively to USA TODAY Network.

Do we want every single person out on the roadway driving around texting the evening plans, updating Facebook and closing business deals? Where should we draw the line on the degree of risk that a distracted driver is permitted to impose on others?

The consequence of distracted driving affects everyone – victims who survived the accident, distracted drivers who have caused one, and those who have lost a loved one. Safety advocates embrace the implementation of tougher laws against cell phone use while operating a vehicle, but it is not enough. We all need to take personal responsibility to prevent distracted driving. The best way to do so is to become more educated on the dangers it poses and take the time to implement safer driving behaviors. As a general rule, if you cannot devote your full attention to driving because of some other activity, it’s a distraction — even if you think you excel at “multi-tasking.”

Lawsuit Financial is vehemently committed to ending distracted driving of any kind. Our hope is that through our writings and supporting organizations such as the Casey Feldman Foundation (CFF), we can help increase public awareness to this dangerous habit. We hope our readers will do the same. Don’t let your urge to be connected at all times “collide” with the need to drive safely. Don’t post your final words while behind the wheel. Join Lawsuit Financial and commit to driving safer!