Alright, I’ve got to vent a little bit this week. And I might sound like a total buzzkill to some of you, but I honestly don’t care. I’m here to talk about texting and driving and how utterly sick I am of seeing people do it.

Every day, I drive through two different school zones on my way to work. Traffic is usually a lot busier at this time since – like me – everyone is going to work or school at the same time, and there are kids out walking to school and crossing the street on every corner. The number of people I see driving through these school zones and very obviously staring down at their phones instead of at the road is concerning. Earlier this week, I saw a woman driving her car full of kids to school and she had BOTH hands off the steering wheel and on her phone while driving down the street, not even looking where she was going.

Seriously?? Come on, people! Not only could some kid come running into the street at any time, but what if the person in front of you suddenly slams on the brakes and you can’t react quick enough? Not only are you in danger, but you’re putting all of your kids inside the vehicle in danger too. What is so freaking important that it can’t wait until you arrive at your destination?

Honestly, it doesn’t seem like rocket science to me. If you are expecting an important message, you hear your phone ring while driving, and think “I need to answer this RIGHT NOW.” Then PULL OVER. I don’t ever remember a time where someone couldn’t wait a couple of minutes for me to respond to a text. And if it’s truly life or death that you get in touch with someone right then and there, a lot of cars now a days have Bluetooth connectivity. You can HANDS FREE dial up their number and call them. Or like I said before, just pull over.

I’m sure you’ve seen the statistics out there already, but I wanted to share some with you here.

As of 2024, it is illegal to text and drive in 48 states. And guess what – South Dakota is one of them. It’s even a primary offense in South Dakota, meaning you can be pulled over and ticketed just for texting, it does not have to be in conjunction with another offense. So, maybe if the thought of crashing your vehicle or injuring yourself or others doesn’t scare you from texting and driving, paying for a ticket would? *insert eye roll here* Source.

In a 2024 survey, 47% of drivers admitted to texting while driving, which is a 31% increase from the same survey done in 2021. So, even though it has been proven to be risky and dangerous – and ILLEGAL – more and more people are doing it. Source. 3,000 people die every year from accidents related to a distracted driver. Let’s start putting the phones down and paying attention.

Almost 93% of drivers consider hand-held cell phone usage of any kind to be dangerous – 71% of people agreed that texting and driving was just as dangerous as drinking and driving. However, 27% of those people admitted to sending a text or email while driving, and 38% admitted to reading a text or email. If you know it’s dangerous, then why do you still do it? Source.

For teens – who very well could be learning it from YOU, their parents and role models – 39% admitted to texting or emailing while driving. Four in ten teens also admit to riding with a driver who used their cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger. Source. And if your children see you doing it, they’re going to think it’s okay too. Be a better role model and put the phone down.

If it sounds like I’m angry, it’s because I am. It’s really simple, people. Just put the phone down while you’re driving. I think most of us out there reading this know someone who has been killed or injured in an accident involving cell phone usage while driving. We all know it’s dangerous. So, why do so many people still do it? What else is it going to take to get you to put the phone down?

How would you feel if your mother or father, siblings, or your best friend was killed because of a distracted driver? How would you feel if YOU were the one who killed someone’s loved one because you were too busy texting? Would that text be worth it? I can’t think of a single scenario where the answer to that question would be yes.

Think about it. And please do better.

Until next time,

Megan Reiffenberger