Texting “I Love You” Changed a Family’s Life Forever! #ItCanWait
Over the summer, I have talked about AT&T and a new campaign they have called “It Can Wait.” What can wait? Texting can wait! We’ve seen in television shows what can happen when someone’s texting (Quinn in an episode of Glee), but have we really seen what can happen in real life? Let me introduce you to Chandler, featured in the video below.
I don’t know about you, but I was almost in tears from watching this 32 second video. What if I were in Chandler’s position? Is a text saying “I love you” worth the lives of 3 innocent children? The answer is NO!!
While some may say, “Just don’t do it” without any hesitation, it might be a challenge for others. Thanks to the inspiration of friends and family, I have a few tips on how to avoid the temptation of texting and driving:
1 – Airplane Mode. Put your phone into Airplane Mode while you’re driving. This will prevent any text messages or phone calls from coming through while you’re on the road.
2 – Put it away. Store your cell phone in your purse or glovebox so that it is out of your reach. This will eliminate any temptation you may have to pick up your home and read a text or respond to a text.
3 – Power Off. Turning your phone off while your driving may eliminate any temptation all together! Turn your phone back on when you’ve reached your destination.
4 – Silence. Silencing your phone may also be helpful. If you can’t hear the text come through, you won’t be tempted to respond.
5 – Watch the video. Sometimes it doesn’t really click until you see a real-life after effect that was the result of texting and driving. What if that were you or your family were killed because someone was texting? What if you killed them because you were texting?
Make the decision that no text is worth a life! You can take the AT&T It Can Wait Pledge today! Join me and others around the country in saying “It Can Wait.”
What do you do to avoid texting while driving?
I never text and drive, but my husband used to. His police officer friend died this summer when the driver was texting while driving, however, and he has FINALLY gotten it through his head to stop texting while driving!
I have a very short commute thankfully but even if I didn’t I would just put my phone out of reach so that I wouldn’t be tempted.
I keep my phone in my purse and keep my purse on the floor. Hard to reach.
That is so sad! I could never imagine having to live with something like that. I’ll be honest, I used to text while driving. Lately, I don’t. At all. At some point, I will get to where I’m going and be able to check my phone. If it’s that important, I pull over.
It can absolutely wait. Thank you for sharing this….
I’m strict about this. We went to an AllState event where a mother told her story about a loss and it broke my heart….It Can Definitely Wait.
Kas
I totally agree. I leave mine in my purse when driving. It can definitely wait!!
I hope, as a society, we learn this lesson, and soon!
thanks,
Mitch
texting and driving is terrible, I never do it and I make sure my phone is in my purse so I have no temptation.
I’m pretty strict about this, but admittedly need to not do it while at stoplights…
[…] recently learned about how a family was changed forever from a text saying, “I Love You.” Who would have known that one simple sentence […]
I appreciate that instead of calling for Chandlers head you chose to spread awareness.
Preventionary > Reactionary
Texting and driving is inexcusable. Period. For the record however, the three girls Chandler hit did not lose their lives as your blurb implies. Horrible things happen when drivers are not distracted. My baby brother hit and killed a pedestrian by no fault of his own. He was driving three miles above the posted limit and the man ran out across the street after a bus. It was dark, the pedestrian had his hood up, sunglasses on (at night), was on the phone and just picked the wrong moment to cross. Not only did it ruin the lives of that poor man’s family but it traumatized my baby brother. Cars can be so deadly and dangerous. People don’t realize. Driving alone is dangerous to text while driving is just ridiculous. Inexcusable.
You know what, I confused this man with another who struck three children while texting. This is the man who struck the amish buggy at 60mph and never had charges filed against him. Sorry.
I’m almost 18, and I leave my phone in my cup holder. Open and within reach, but I never use it while driving. I personally find it really sad that people actually have to put their phone away while driving just so they don’t use it. Is it really that attached to you? You can’t let it ring for a few minutes while you’re driving? Like come on…I’m 17, almost 18, a senior in high school, I have friends and a social life, and I don’t text and drive. Surely you don’t need to either.