Driving while Texting

In an attempt to crack down on texting while driving Great Britain has sentenced the texting driver of a car that killed a young woman, to jail time. It goes without saying how tragic this accident is, and as a mother it just adds to all my fears for my son's safety (physical and social). But I am not sure I agree with the sentencing.

Texting is obviously dangerous when driving. So is talking on the cell phone, applying makeup, reprimanding the kids in the back seat and playing with the radio. Any thing that distracts the driver is trouble. It is so easy to divert your attention from the road; driving becomes habit and mundane. I hate to admit it but I have been know to participate in several of these distractive activities, not to mention changing from a work suit to an evening cocktail dress while driving down the expressway. Just like the driver of this car, I felt I was in control and could handle it. I was lucky and have honestly been better. I guess you just don't think of the ramifications. That's not a rationale it is simply true.

But does this driver deserve to go to jail? If I was the mother of the victim I would scream YES and for a long time. But if I were the mother of the driver I would have a completely different opinion. A car can be a weapon, just like a gun. But if a gun accidentally goes off killing someone, will that person go to jail? Should he? Maybe there a better way to eliminate phone usage while driving. Perhaps a device installed in cars which prevents cell reception. It seems the temptation is too great to grab that phone so we may need interference.

Which brings up another point - why must we always be doing at least two things at the same time? Multi-tasking is essential to our daily life. We are so overcommitted and afraid to miss out that we only scarcely pay attention to the task in front of us - like driving. A good friend of mine mentioned that our generation is not as good at mutli-tasking as our children will be. Technology has trained them to do multiple things and we are evolving into a heightened ability. Think about the examples. Of course video games and texting but watch your news broadcasts. Not only are you listening to the newscasters, but a ticker tape of information is scrolling across the bottom of the screen and a sidebar appears with additional facts. We are truly at a point of cultural ADD. Not only the media, but we do it ourselves. I can't think of one mother I know who hasn't had the kids eat in the car while doing their homework on the way to a sporting event.

Hi, my name is Bonnie and I am a mult-tasker.