Take A Risk

As June arrives tomorrow, graduation celebrations are in full swing. Kids are at the peak of summer and plans for them are already underway. But one thing remains forgotten in all of this celebration, that is the risks that loom on the horizon for our newest drivers.

Back in the day, Oh yeah, it's one of those moments again, when we grew up learning to drive our biggest distraction was the 8 track tape players or cassette players if we were fortunate to have one in our cars. We had a few close friends that we looked forward to heading to our favorite places with, along with no parents either.

Now today, our teens are more distracted than ever before. They have cell phones, laptops, Ipods, and GPS systems all intergrated into the car, along with their favorite school friends. This is where driving gets deadly. There are too many distractions for our kids to handle.

Here is my challenge to you and your families. What is the risk for you? Just how important is that phone call or latest text message? Can it wait? Until it's safe for you to receive it or check it?

What is your life worth for reading one message from your friend? I guarantee you, it's not worth the risk to lose it all over just one moment in time. So here's my challenge and even I am afraid, I too, have been guilty of this. Of taking a phone call, or reading a message or even responding to a text, although I usually wait for a red light first. If I don't set the example to my own kids, then who will.

As parents, before we send our kids out for summer vacations, take the challenge with me. Challenge your kids to take it too! In fact, the more people that can spread the word, the better our odds are.

I challenge you to take the pledge to Not Text while driving. In fact, I am taking it that much further and am not taking calls while I drive any longer. Studies show that 11 of our children are killed every single day by distracted driving. That means, texting while driving, talking while driving and just about everything else including just driving.

So what's it worth to you as a parent or even a teen reading this. Is your friends lives worth it? What about your families who will have to deal with the aftermath of knowing that your death or that of someone else could have been prevented by just waiting til you arrived at your destination to return that message? Trust me, nothing is that important. Your life means something. You were destined for greatness and not a text message.

Just this weekend, I happened to watch an episode of Extreme Home Make Over and saw the tragedy that struck the Brown family. Their daughter on the verge of graduating died one morning while she was texting and caused her pick up truck to overturn several times, ejecting her from the vehicle. Was her life worth it?

Now her family has vowed to spend their time sharing their story along with Alex's wrecked pick up to share just how real the dangers are for distracted driving for anyone. Us, parents, included.

So will you take the pledge and challenge everyone else you know to do the same???

If so, click this link and take the pledge.

If you want to know more about her story and how you can help, please click this link.

Please take the risk that could save the life of another today!!!