Texting CAN wait! Take the Pledge NOW!

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Blogging While Brown Conference thanks to Alexandra Elizabeth. I walked away with such valuable information as a blogger that I will incorporate right here in my space. I also walked away with the importance of reminding myself that as a blogger texting CAN wait! In social media we are consumed with Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Pinterest, Instagram and many other platforms. We are also bombarded with many texts messages as well as emails. We need to set boundaries and be responsible enough to start them once we have the inkling that we are going to drive.

 I won’t act like a fake and say that I NEVER looked at my phone while at a red light, because I am woman enough to confess that I have. Sure, I have heard of the severities of looking away or down even for a micro second. Again, as a blogger we are on social media 24/7 although many don’t understand it, it’s a part of our life, especially if it is your full time job. This weekend really gave me a rude awakening and reinforced even more, the IMPORTANCE of NOT even looking down. It’s worth more to pretend like your phone isn’t even with you while operating a vehicle, or throwing it in the back seat because it will save your life and possibly the life of someone else.

The statistics blew me away yesterday when it was discussed at the Driving and Texting session sponsored by AT&T with Deanna McKinley and L Michelle Humphress. It was disturbing to know that African American teens are the #2 population of drivers who text and Latinos are #1. As a Latina, a light bulb went off. What message am I sending my offspring when Mami looks down at that red light? Am I taking into consideration their own precious lives? I felt horrible at that moment as if I had failed as a Mother. When I took the pledge at the booth and again during the session, at that moment their words echoed deep into my soul, I knew it clicked. IT CAN and WILL WAIT.

I came home and visited itcanwait  and watched all of the videos and read all of the stories. As I watched and read, I cried because I felt the pain of that mother telling the story of her son being paralyzed below. That motherly instinct came over me, and I felt myself in her shoes at that moment. It’s unfair that she can no longer see her son run, all because of a text. I don’t want to be the cause of something like that, and I don’t ever want to be the victim. I see others as I am driving on the highway with their phone in hand, and although I have NEVER done that, I admit to looking at my phone during a red light, and that’s wrong too. It’s crucial to stay focused on the road and avoid any behaviors that could lead to accidents or the need for drink driving solicitors.

Join me as a Mommy, Teacher and Latina to take the pledge to never text and drive. Let’s change those numbers that were mentioned at the beginning of this post.  We can save lives and we can save our lives. As I hear my boys in the room as I type this post I know that they are my most prized possessions and a text can change that in a second. I don’t want to risk their lives or the lives of others, and I hope you won’t either! 

Let’s Share: We are all adults so let’s be honest- Have you looked down at your phone at a red light before? Will you take the pledge with me? Please leave a coment why you think it’s important NOT to text and drive!