Don’t Text and Drive—It Can Wait

Multi-tasking has become a way of life, right? We’re all incredibly busy. In addition to my role as Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), I have a daughter under the age of one, a part-time clinical role, and am actively involved in committees, advisory boards, and much, much more. I’m sure you all know the feeling. There are never enough hours in the day.

A quick text at a red light, scrolling through e-mail when traffic’s stopped…  It’s easy to give in to the temptation to multi-task on the road. But the reality is that every time we look away from the road, we take precious lives (our own, those in our car, and the lives of other drivers on the road) into our hands. According to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Research, texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident. As we approach the holiday season, more of us will be on the road visiting family and friends.  I ask that you consider leaving your cell phone in the back seat with the kids, or download an app that will let senders know you’re on the road. These simple steps can prevent a potentially devastating tragedy.

Please take 10 minutes to watch this documentary. “The Last Text” features stories of real individuals whose lives have been adversely affected by texting behind the wheel. We are grateful and humbled by the bravery of the people who agreed to be on camera.

I’ve committed to stop texting and driving as part of the “It Can Wait” campaign. Saving 5 seconds by responding to a message is not worth a life.  Please do the same and be well.