Take Back My Drive Pledge – Against Distracted Driving

This is a partnered post with NSC.org. #TakeBackMyDrive @NSCsafety 

While most states have banned texting while driving it is still going on.  Still causing accidents.  Still costing people their lives.  Still ruining the lives of others.  Why?  Why is the desire to stay connected so strong that we must see what’s going on or we must reply right away?  While I don’t have the answer to those questions I do want to propose a few ways that we can avoid it.  These are practical tips to help keep you and those you love (and random strangers) as safe as possible.

1. Leave your phone in your purse or your pocket.  Don’t answer it till you have stopped the car.  Easy peasy.  This is my favorite move and because my phone is always on vibrate I never hear it in my diaper bag.
2. Give your phone to a fellow passenger and assign them the responsibility to relay messages and calls to you.
3. Turn off your phone.  Gasp.  That’s right, turn that baby off.  All of your notifications will be there when you power back up I promise.
4. If another activity or call absolutely demands your attention find a location and pull off the road.  You’ll never regret taking the time to stop but you might regret what could happen if you didn’t.  Don’t live with regret.
5. Take the pledge to Take Back My Drive and choose to not drive distracted in any way – I will not:
   • Have a phone conversation – handheld, hands-free, or via Bluetooth
   • Text or send Snapchats
   • Use voice-to-text features in my vehicle’s dashboard system
   • Update Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, Vine or other social media
   • Check or send emails
   • Take selfies or film videos
   • Input destinations into GPS (while the vehicle is in motion anyway, plan ahead!)
   • Call or message someone else when I know they are driving

I’ve seen big 18 wheelers texting while driving!  I actually felt sympathetic with the man who drives for a living when I saw him swerving on the road and told him to “wake up” from the seat of my car…only to look over and see that his swerving on the curvy roads wasn’t due to being tired but do to his selfish act of texting while driving.  I couldn’t believe it!  Even if you aren’t driving a powerful rig on curvy roads, any time of communication behind the wheel causes risk.  Let’s limit all the risks we can.

April is distracted driver awareness month!  Share these tips with those you love and encourage them to take the Take Back My Drive pledge along with you!