Did you know if you are texting and driving you are six times more likely to be in an accident than if you were drunk driving? It's New Year’s Eve, and we tend to focus on making sure everyone has a designated driver, which I agree 100%. But this year, you need to put down the phone while driving.
Every day we make a million decisions that shape the course of our day, week, month, year and life. In an instant, one decision can change everything and affect thousands of people.
On December 30th, 2011, Emily Huntington, a beautiful 18-year-old girl made a decision that ended her life in an instant. Emily, a senior at Jac-Cen-Del High School in Southeastern Indiana, was captain and leading scorer of her basketball team, on the honor roll, volunteered in her community and was accepted to Indiana University.
On a beautiful day in December, Emily was driving and picked up her phone to read and respond to a text message. She lost control of her car; it flipped, and because she wasn't wearing her seatbelt, she was ejected from her vehicle and died instantly.
Emily made a mistake, an irreversible mistake. She didn't have her seatbelt on that day, which friends say she ALWAYS wore and she was texting. I must admit, I always wear my seatbelt. When I was younger, my father a retired police officer would say, "I never pulled a dead body from a seatbelt." But before Emily's crash, I was GUILTY of texting while driving.
Every time I am tempted to text and drive, I think of Emily. I know her tragic mistake, has saved my life. That is why, six years later, I'm still sharing her story.
Here are some staggering statistics on Texting and Driving from Icebike.org:
- 1 out of 4 car accidents in the US is caused by texting while driving.
- The chances of a crash because of any reason is increased by 23 times when you are texting.
- Every day, 11 teenagers die because they were texting while driving.
- If those stats didn't convince you, here's more.
For Emily's death to be for nothing we must learn from her mistake. We must advocate and spread the word that Texting While Driving KILLS people. Emily's friends and family don't want others to experience the tragedy and loss that they are experiencing. The students and faculty where Emily went to school made a PSA. Check it out!
Please share the PSA with...
- Friends and family members, young and old
- If you are a teacher, share it with your students.
- If you are employed, share it with your coworkers.
- If you are in management or a decision maker at your workplace, tell your employees that no company text, phone call or e-mail is worth risking their life or the lives of those on the road around them.
Today's Giving Challenge: Share the PSA and blog to spread Emily’s story. AND...
Don't text...Just Drive. It can wait!
Blessings,
Stephanie
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About the Author:
Stephanie Jones and her husband, Mike, live in Northwest, IN and enjoy lake life and travel. Stephanie is the author of The Giving Challenge-40 Days to a More Generous Life (on sale NOW!), a speaker, life success coach, and a daily giver. Stephanie empowers people to change their life through giving.
You can contact Stephanie by email at Stephanie@GivingGal.com