Mommy Confessions ~~ Texting while driving is NO JOKE!

This post is a serious one.  No rants, no giveaways, no funny kid stories.  It's about texting while driving.  It involves me and another vehicle.  It makes me thankful that I have someone who watches over me and my daughter.

Saturday, A was invited to her friend's birthday party.  We were headed to the party with plenty of time.  We had to stop at our local Target for a gift bag and card, but otherwise, we were set to go. 

Traveling to the party I came to an intersection.  The light was green and I was making a left hand turn onto a busier street.  I pulled my "swagger wagon" out into the intersection to make the turn.  There wasn't any on-coming traffic so I was set to turn. 

Thankfully, something made me put on the brakes.  I honestly have no idea who/what made me do it, but I did.  Right about then, a young woman oblivious to her surroundings drove right through the red light.  She was coming from my left side, so had I continued to pull out into the intersection, she would have hit the driver side of my car head on.  She was going about 45 as well.  See where I'm going with this. 

The cars all around me began to honk at her!  The worst part?  She was texting!!  She didn't even know the light was red!  She had her phone up on the steering wheel typing away on the keypad!!  Seriously?!?!?!?!?!  You blew through a red light all because you were texting?!?!  What is SO DARN important that it couldn't wait? 

Which is why I don't have a cell phone!  Ask Andrea.  It's a huge joke within my circle of friends, but I don't.  I have a prepaid that sits in my van with a charge and about 10 minutes on it.  It's what I might need if I was ever stranded or broken down, but otherwise I don't need another distraction while I'm driving.  I typically have 3 distractions that are more than enough ;-)

So, while we were almost in an accident, it didn't make us late for the party!  I did pull off the road and breathe a bit before continuing on, but otherwise, we made it.  Thank goodness something made me put on the brakes. 

There is a program run by Oprah (I didn't know about this, but I'm 100% supporting it!) called the No Phone Zone Pledge.  It basically says you won't text while driving a vehicle.  I signed it.  Will you too?  It may just save a life!