In case you haven’t heard, Oprah’s latest crusade is to get as many people as possible to take a pledge to make our cars “no phone zones.” According to Oprah, Nearly 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are killed each year because drivers are talking, texting and e-mailing behind the wheel.
I am not a big cell phone user. My boys are constantly chiding me for how little I know about my cell phone. I think too many in our society are pathetic cell phone addicts. While shopping, I daydream of tasering fellow shoppers who insist on loudly blathering about the most inane minutiae on their cell phones - especially those lugging poor, neglected tots with them. I also think it is incredibly rude to have someone constantly scanning their phone, crackberry - or whatever they have - while you’re talking to them. I don’t do any of that, but I confess I have, on occasion, taken or made a call while driving. Studies now show it is just as dangerous as drinking and driving – something I would never consider doing. So, I have taken Oprah's "No Phone Zone" pledge and knew you, as a sister (or brother) of the Ungirdled Nation would want to consider doing it, too.
To see some very compelling arguments and videos for signing the pledge, go to oprah.com and hit the “no phone zone” icon to the right. (Or click here after reading this post.) Once there, you can also access and sign the pledge to make your car a no phone zone and lessen the chance that you or someone you love will be killed or injured due to cell phone use while driving. I can pretty much guarantee after seeing just this or this, you’ll think it’s the right thing to do. There are three different pledge options from "I will not text while driving," to "I will not text or use my phone while I am driving. If I need to use my phone, I will pull over to the side of the road."
I know, I know. It’s easy for Oprah to preach no talking or texting while driving. I’m sure she has a driver taking her everywhere, just as she has a chef cooking her kinder diet, a personal accountant helping her save, and millions of dollars to help charity. I'm sorry for the less-than- light-hearted post this go around, but I know you agree 6,000 deaths a year due to using something we easily (and literally!) lived without until just recently is enough to make you want to say “amen” to this sermon.
Images from Oprah.com "No Phone Zone" page
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It's lovely to read about another non cell-phone lover. When everyone else dies of brain cancer, we'll have to get together or at least talk on those old fashioned phones with cords. (My cell phone is a track phone that ran out of minutes a month ago... haven't bothered to put any more on yet.)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. You probably poop just fine, btw.
Holly, you had me giggling at my computer - thanks for the reassurance on my poop! You bring up another good reason for not using the cell phone - the brain cancer things is a real turnoff for me, too. Thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteWellllllllll....... I can take the Laura Ling part of the pledge and that is to have a no text or email pledge, but my job keeps me on the phone a lot, so I use my bluetooth when I am on the road all day.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Sheila! I it's the texting while driving that's by far the most dangerous! Thanks for visiting! Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteI heard about this but didn't watch the episode. But I make every effort to leave my phone alone when I am driving!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Mighty M! I don't blame you with those adorable kids in tow! This is one time I don't mind being in Oprah's congregation!
ReplyDeleteTracy, you and I are of an exact like mind on the cell phone thing! I'm a computer addict, but I let my cell phone minutes expire constantly, and let my battery lie listless. My kids are always bugging me about it. But, like you, I find it so rude in so many instances -- when you're with your kids, when you're with your friends, when you're at a restaurant, when you're at the movies -- that I often just wish people would stop using them!
ReplyDeleteBut Oprah's new crusade is a good one.
I saw a mother who lost her child (to a texting driver) speak about this once and she said, "What message could have been that important?" And when I thought about all the inane messages passed back and forth, and realized that THAT driver could have very well been responding with something like "lol," and yet that cost a child his entire life (and cost a mother her child), it made me really think how tragic it is.
SO true, Laurie! I can not believe people TEXT and drive. I couldn't believe the statistics when I heard them. I've been guilty of chatting and driving (not often, but I've done it), but have now taken the pledge! Thanks for visiting!
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