Text Messages and Driving

Over the semester we've discussed all the good that has come from technology, but with this new medium comes a need for responsibility. Society must come to an understanding of when the use these tech tools is or is not appropriate.

Let's "dumb down" our gadgets all the way to cell phones and texting, just for the sake of my little rant here.

A few months ago I had lunch with my college's women's soccer coach, he is a tech savvy guy who loves texting and emailing from his blackberry. The entire meal he had his fork in his right hand and his phone in his left, and would stop eating and talking every few minutes to text or email...I ended up getting frustrated and asking him if his life was really that busy. I don't think he even realized he was being rude...and annoying. And he's not alone. How often have you seen people in line at a store talking on their phone while the cashier is assisting with their check-out? How often have you been at a movie theater and someone begins texting or accepts a call (go to a matinee for a children's movie and you'll know what I am talking about). How many times have you been in a store and overheard a conversation because the individual on the phone was speaking so loud? These acts should be considered socially unacceptable, yet we we are constantly witnesses of these actions. Every time I get a new clinical student to supervise I must stress my dissatisfaction of constant text messages, phone calls, and now emails.

And now the most pressing issue, texting and driving. Have you ever been in a car while someone was texting? Have you ever been driving and sent a text? If so, you need to watch this link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32184212#32184212

You will learn that texting while driving is actually 23% more dangerous than being intoxicated behind the wheel. You wouldn't dare place yourself in a situation where you were the passenger of a car being driven by someone who is drunk, but you may sit back as your driver sends a "quick" text or email. I'm not going to ramble on about this subject, but please do watch the clip...and notice the number of people you see using their phones to text or email while driving. Maybe we can't change how inept our society is when it comes to social graces, but at least we can contribute by exemplifying what should be the norm...and not what actually is.

Long story short, if your life is so busy and important to need to text while driving...pull over and text away...after all whoever you needed to respond to would rather you arrive late than not arrive at all.