NEVER text and drive!
Imagine this.
You’re driving down the interstate at 60+miles per hour. You’re comfortable and confident that your children are safe because you take as many precautions as possible when driving. Suddenly, a driver comes at you head-on without warning. Moments of fear grip you as you do everything possible to avoid a crash and protect your children and yourself.
But it’s too late.
You may have taken all necessary precautions to ensure safe travel, including these:
- Children buckled in the back seat in their approved safety restraint seats? Check!
- All objects secured to avoid them from becoming projectiles in the event of a sudden stop? Check!
- Mirrors, seats and steering wheel adjusted? Check!
- Seatbelt buckled? Check!
- Air bags “on”? Check!
- Tires properly inflated? Check!
Seems like all systems are go!
But wait — there is a danger lurking that just might catch you off-guard.
Talking on cell phones while driving adds danger for everyone involved. It causes significant driver distractions and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that at least 20% of injury crashes incurred involve distracted drivers. Of all people killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, almost 1,000 deaths involved reported cell phone distraction as the primary factor!
And did you know that people who use cell phones while driving are 4 times more likely to cause crashes serious enough to injure passengers?
So, be sure to add this to your safety check list and turn off cell phones while driving.
NO TEXTING
Additionally, NEVER text and drive!
It’s as serious in many cases as drinking and driving according to some reports. And it’s a serious threat to the lives of your children and you.
WTVR-TV, CBS 6 and Emroch & Kilduff, LLP have launched the W82TEXT campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of texting and driving. Richmondmoms can play a vital role in educating everyone on the dangers of texting while driving by setting a good example and never texting while behind the wheel. And if you have children or grandchildren who drive, make sure they follow the rules of not texting too. Have them sign the W82TEXT Pledge so they make a promise and commitment to driving safely.
It may seem that it’s easy to read a text or text while driving, but just one or two seconds of being distracted can change lives forever.
Learn more about W82TEXT and spread the word so others are educated on the dangers of texting and driving. It’s one more way to keep our children safer on the highway — whether they’re riding in their safety seats or driving!
