Texting is a wonderful invention that allows you to respond quickly and efficiently to friends and family members at any time. However, texting has a time and a place, and one place it is definitely inappropriate is when you are driving. Texting while driving has led to numerous car accidents and deaths, including a train accident in California that left 25 people dead.
How To Stop Yourself From Texting While Driving
Throw the phone in the trunk. The top benefit of a cell phone is that you can use it if you have a flat or get in an accident and need to call a tow truck or family member. However, you might be tempted to send one last message or respond to something that seems urgent but really isn't. Keeping your handheld completely out of reach, whether it is in the truck or in the backseat, might do the trick, and, if the text is that important, you can get off the road and send the text from a parking lot.
Disable your phone while on the road. A true texting addict will have difficulty breaking the habit. That's where the new product Key2SafeDriving comes in. A key holder attached to your car key activates every time you start your car and blocks your ability to make a call or text. The gadget forces you to make the choice-either drive or pull over and take the call. While the product is still in development, it seems to be a good compromise that lets you keep the phone with you while helping you resist temptation, and parents may be able to use it to stop teens from texting while driving. Click here for more information.
How To Stop Others From Texting While Driving
Write your representatives. As the problem rises and more high-profile accidents occur, politicians are starting to notice, and more states, such as California and New Jersey, have banned the practice. Look up your local representatives, and let them know how you feel.
Set ground rules with your family. Talk to your children and even your partner about the problem, especially if you have the habit of texting each other on the way home. Ask them to pull over and call you if they are running late, and revoke driving privileges if you find out that your teen is texting while driving.
Report it. No one likes to be a spoilsport or a tattletale, but texting while driving is illegal in many states. If you find yourself in an accident or someone almost hits you while you cross the street, and you saw her texting, take down the driver's license plate number, and call the police. One visit from a police officer or a fine might help the driver break a bad habit. And, if you are a commuter and you notice a bus driver or a train operator with a phone, take note of the driver's number, which is often displayed at the front of the bus or train, and write the head of the appropriate transportation agency. You might save lives.
With these tips, you'll soon realize that you are devoting more brain power to driving, and you can always handle those texts at a later time.
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