January 19, 2013
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ARE YOU RISKING YOUR CHILD’S LIFE?
I was packing my groceries into my car yesterday when a young mother with a small toddler walked by me. She packed her bags into the car next to me, picked up her daughter and put her in the car seat. I noticed that she used the proper procedures for safely securing her child in the seat and gave her a mental thumbs up. I let her back up before me as she had precious cargo and I was in no great hurry. Once I pulled out, I followed her SUV out of the parking lot and watched as she put her cell phone to her ear.
We both pulled out onto a major highway and it seemed we were heading in the same direction. I kept a safe distance from her vehicle and had a good view of her while she continued to talk on her cell phone. I watched as the SUV continuously edged over the line separating two lanes of traffic and then swing back into it’s original lane. To my horror, I then watched her drive through a red light.
I returned home and wondered what phone call was so important that this young mother would risk her child’s life in order to talk on her cell? Curious, the next day when my SO and I were driving down the highway, I counted the number of cars we passed. Out of 50 cars, 27 drivers were holding a cell phone conversation while driving. 12 of these cars had children in them; 10 of those children were in car seats. When I got home, I looked up some of the statistics and was shocked at the number of lives lost due to cell phone use.
Distracted drivers who talk, text or eat while driving are responsible for 15 deaths and 1200 injuries PER DAY! Unfortunately, some of those statistics include children. Parents are responsible for the safety of their kids and yet, give no thought to picking up that cell phone while driving with their children in the vehicle. Many states have either passed or are in the process of trying to push legislation that would make it illegal to use a cell phone while driving. Sadly, this is habppening too slowly or the laws are being ignored.
Having been a parent who had to drive with my kids in the car, I know there are other distractions that drivers encounter. Heavy traffic, horns blaring or having a crying child in the back seat can all contribute to a lack of total concentration on the road. There is always the danger presented by pedestrians crossing the road or an animal darting in front of your vehicle. Do we really need to add another risk by talking or texting while driving?
What is so hard about turning your phone off or at least putting it on Mute while you drive your precious cargo to your destination? What is more important than your child’s safety? And, even if you are alone in the vehicle, do you want to risk hurting another person or their child because you are talking or texting?
So, the next time you are going to drive your child somewhere, please follow safe procedures: secure the child properly, get in the driver’s seat and fasten your seat belt, pull out your cell phone and turn it off! Then you have reduced the risk of putting both of your lives in danger!
Comments (45)
Great advice. I very rarely drive with a child in the car. Once last I did. If I am going to talk on my cell phone, I pull over and stop. I think driving is a great time to practice living in the present moment.
Sometimes I idly count how many phone-using drivers I see as I walk to work or sit in the passenger seat of our car (I can’t drive, you see.) It’s frightening how many there still are even now you can be prosecuted here for doing so.
A year or so ago a local bus driver was fired for using her phone while driving one of the scheduled school routes – a couple of the kids on board filmed her doing it so there was no escaping her fate. So not only was she in control of a massive double-decker bus she was responsible for the lives of about 60 children, not to mention other car users and pedestrians.
We recently drove behind a car where the driver had a film playing on some small tablet device sitting where a satnav should be mounted on his dashboard.
Furthermore, it is illegal….not that anyone follows the law anymore.
i have enough trouble concentrating on the road when the kids are in the car. also. some of the best conversations i have with my children are in the car. so. no. i don’t talk on the phone while driving.
I very seldom use a phone while driving and only very briefly when I must. I was t-boned by a mother talking to her kids in the backseat. It’s tough enoug to drive with the little one in the car sometimes!
no talking, no texting, phone on silent but in my pocket. this last part is important because if you have an accident you will be able to find it.–karen
When I am forced to pass people on the right (also illegal here in my state) I would say upwards of 75% are on the phone.
AMEN! Most people know that when they call me and I’m driving I don’t usually answer the phone…
It’s illegal to talk without a hands free device, and it’s also illegal to speed, tailgate, and run red lights, but people still do it. I guess they are all more daredevils than I am.
its crazyness, insanity, what could possibly be that important?
Great message! I think it’s so easy to forget that phones are dangerous in the car because we use them all the time.
How very true…thanks for the Rec!@C_L_O_G -
Scary, isn’t it? Thanks for reading!@holeinyoursoul -
I imagine that police enforcement is difficult, as these people drop their phones when they spot a cop. I have seen this! Then they pick them back up when the cop is gone. Sad, but true. Thanks for the Rec.@vexations -
Good job! Wish everyone would follow your path. @promisesunshine -
Any break in concentration can cause an accident. I hope that mom, her kids and you were not hurt! Thanks for the Rec.@oceanstarr -
I agree…putting the phone on silent lets you concentrate until you reach a safe place to return an important call. Unfortunately, some people feel a red light is that safe place and then continue on with the phone still in their ear!@lifeontheWink -
It’s illegal in CA to drive and text, or to drive and talk on a hand-held phone. I expect the statistics would be about the same here, though, if one counted the cars with children, hand-held phones, etc. People do seem to do a pretty good job with the car seats, though.
Sounds just about right…and oh, so dangerous! @Thatslifekid -
That is how I play the game. My phone sits in the passenger seat, untouched when I am driving.@murisopsis -
I believe it’s called reckless and it is costing people their lives and the lives of little ones.@leaflesstree -
There is nothing more important than driving safely…simple as that! Thanks for the comments!@MoonBeam2 -
I’m not sure but I think here in Sarasota there are more folks ON the phone than OFF. I wonder what could possibly be that important that it can’t wait a bit. How did we ever survive when we couldn’t talk while driving? I don’t and won’t. The ridiculous traffic here is bad enough without me adding to it.
I so agree with you, but I can’t say I’m not guilty. Sometimes when that phone rings, I just grab it without even pausing. Or I’m rushing around and trying to meet up with people or catch someone that’s hard to get a hold of. I know none of it is as important as the safety of my kiddo, but that doesn’t always come to mind. I do want to do better with this.
I use to text and drive and had a very near miss. I decided that was my wake up call and don’t do that anymore. I need to make that not using the phone at all in the car!
@crankycaregiver - No one in the other car was injured and I didn’t have the baby yet so it worked out mostly ok.
You can say that again. We’re famous here in Florida for the bad accident rate we carry. Why add to it by using a cell phone when you need to be concentrating on the road? @cjc2 -
Thanks for reading! I think the problem is throughout the country, especially in high traffic states such as Ca., Fl., N.Y., etc.@slmret -
Terrific plan…you were lucky once, you might not be as lucky next time. Just get in the practice of turning it on silence or off when you buckle your seat belt! You’ll find in time that you’ll get into the habit before you know it!@Pepin909 -
Thank God. Let’s hope that young mom learned her lesson!@oceanstarr -
And that statistic would only be for the time you were watching. It’s scary and dangerous out there because of people who disregard the safety of their own and others. @Thatslifekid -
People. Always looking out for themselves.
i couldn’t of said it better myself. totally agree with u.
@vexations - So true
it is illegal here in Washington State but it is nit really enforced. I do not talk or text while driving.
I live in Florida and it’s nauseating. “Don’t Drive and Phone” should be as big a slogan as “Don’t Drink and Drive.”
Personally, I’m “not guilty” because I don’t even own a cellphone. I’d like to think I’d be a responsible driver even if I did own such.
I have twice been injured in accidents.
Once by a distracted driver on a cell, once by an idiot who simply wasn’t paying attention.
(Yes, I called him an idiot. He told the cop he didn’t see me because he hadn’t bothered to scrape the ice from his windshield. That’s an idiot in my book.)
The point is that you can kill yourself in a moment of inattention…but you can also RUIN someone else’s life.
No call is worth that. And I have yet to meet the person who harmed another human being on the way to donate a kidney.
Thanks for reading and for the rec!@bigdreamslilhands -
Thank you for that! Now we need to get other’s to do the same.@Grannys_Place -
I like the way you think! Also being in Fl. we face many other dangers on the road. We don’t need distracted drivers adding to those dangers.Thanks for the rec!@twoberry -
I agree, it is selfish to consider your phone calls more important than the safety of other’s on the road. Thanks for the Rec!@loner_writer -
Thank you for “getting” one of my main points. You aren’t only risking your life..you risk a lot of others lives. @galadrial -
And, so sad!@Grannys_Place -
i remember when my daughter was still a toddler in a stroller–i didn’t even dare cross the street while on the phone. i used to say i’d have to go before we crossed the street. when with your small children, you need to be focused
You bring up such a great point! Drivers are not the only ones who have to be aware of their surroundings when they have their children with them. We have bike trails near our home and it is not unusual to see a parent with a toddler on the back of the bike and a cell phone in their ear. Just as dangerous as driving while talking or texting! @bonmots -