Put it down

I can't tell you how many times a day I spot a person all over the road, and when I pull up beside them at a traffic stop, I see they're on their cell phones. No matter the hour, it appears as though half of this nation's drivers are drunk, and the chances are high they haven't consumed a drop of alcohol. Studies have actually showcased that drivers' delayed reaction times are similar when on their cell phones as they are when intoxicated. This may be why an increasing number of states are passing laws banning the use of cell phones while driving. As drunk driving is illegal, it wouldn't make much for a similar distraction to be legal.

Millions of people around the world would give just about anything to have a vehicle or even just have the opportunity to drive. Such a privilege shouldn't be taken for granted. Not only are we putting our own lives in danger when we focus on our cell phones while driving, we're putting other people's lives in danger too.

No matter the situation, it can wait. No matter what your friend Bobby had to say, it can wait. No matter what your Facebook notification was, it can wait. No matter what emoji your boyfriend or girlfriend is sending you, it can wait. No matter how important it may seem to you personally, in the grand scheme of things, no text message is worth dying over or ending another's life over.

Instead of looking over toward your cell phone ever few minutes, just take a deep breath, focus on the road, listen to a song you enjoy, realize how lucky you are to be driving a vehicle in the first place, and check your phone once you stop. Stay alive; don't text and drive.