Please...Decide to Drive

Let me introduce you to four of the most precious possessions that I've ever been given:

These are my babies. They may be three-years-old now, but they will always be my babies (and I know every Mom out there totally gets that!) We fought long and hard to have kids, then went through an incredibly high-risk pregnancy, spent three months in the NICU, and we are *still* doing followup appointments and surgeries to fix preemie issues.

I shouldn't have to say this, but let me put it to you straight. It makes me angry when I see people driving while distracted. I can't be the only person who has found themselves behind someone talking on the phone, veering across lanes or driving far above or below the speed limit. With little voices chatting in the backseat, it ramps up the angst I feel as I try to predict what other drivers are going to do.

So, so scary.

The Auto Alliance and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons asked me to write this post to draw attention to the issue of distracted drivers on our roads.

Absolutely. If my one little post saves one life, than it's worth it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes. Folks, that is a LOT of victims of distracted driving. I think we can safely call distracted driving a big problem.

Orthopaedic Surgeons (the doctors who repair bones and limbs) see a lot of patients that come to them by way of someone being distracted behind the wheel. That's why they've teamed up with The Auto Alliance to simply ask us to "Decide to Drive" every time we get in the car. No matter how many safety features a car has, nothing can replace the act of keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

As I sit here writing this post, I'm thinking back to the stories I've read in the newspapers, and particularly to a triplet mom friend who lost her husband a few weeks ago as the result of another driver being distracted. Two years ago, a different friend lost her husband from another distracted driver. The statuses of these sweet ladies show up in my FaceBook newsfeed daily. They are both raising families alone, without their best friend standing by their side. So much grief and pain can be avoided, but tragically many drivers don't see a need to be fully devoted to the road.

Again, asking people to simply pay attention while behind the wheel shouldn't have to be an issue. But it is. Can you help me? Would you share this post, these statistics, and this campaign with your friends? Ask them to be aware while driving. This is one reminder worth sharing. Checking FaceBook, sending an email, and putting on makeup behind the wheel isn't worth risking lives.

Thanks, friends! And please drive with awareness!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Let me introduce you to four of the most precious possessions that I've ever been given:

These are my babies. They may be three-years-old now, but they will always be my babies (and I know every Mom out there totally gets that!) We fought long and hard to have kids, then went through an incredibly high-risk pregnancy, spent three months in the NICU, and we are *still* doing followup appointments and surgeries to fix preemie issues.

I shouldn't have to say this, but let me put it to you straight. It makes me angry when I see people driving while distracted. I can't be the only person who has found themselves behind someone talking on the phone, veering across lanes or driving far above or below the speed limit. With little voices chatting in the backseat, it ramps up the angst I feel as I try to predict what other drivers are going to do.

So, so scary.

The Auto Alliance and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons asked me to write this post to draw attention to the issue of distracted drivers on our roads.

Absolutely. If my one little post saves one life, than it's worth it.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes. Folks, that is a LOT of victims of distracted driving. I think we can safely call distracted driving a big problem.

Orthopaedic Surgeons (the doctors who repair bones and limbs) see a lot of patients that come to them by way of someone being distracted behind the wheel. That's why they've teamed up with The Auto Alliance to simply ask us to "Decide to Drive" every time we get in the car. No matter how many safety features a car has, nothing can replace the act of keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

As I sit here writing this post, I'm thinking back to the stories I've read in the newspapers, and particularly to a triplet mom friend who lost her husband a few weeks ago as the result of another driver being distracted. Two years ago, a different friend lost her husband from another distracted driver. The statuses of these sweet ladies show up in my FaceBook newsfeed daily. They are both raising families alone, without their best friend standing by their side. So much grief and pain can be avoided, but tragically many drivers don't see a need to be fully devoted to the road.

Again, asking people to simply pay attention while behind the wheel shouldn't have to be an issue. But it is. Can you help me? Would you share this post, these statistics, and this campaign with your friends? Ask them to be aware while driving. This is one reminder worth sharing. Checking FaceBook, sending an email, and putting on makeup behind the wheel isn't worth risking lives.

Thanks, friends! And please drive with awareness!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.