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Textastrophe - What's your pledge?

By
Real Estate Agent with The Real Estate Power Houses

 Texting While Driving  A lot of us live & conduct 90% of our business in our cars.  This past week, Oprah aired a show on the dangers of texting behind the wheel.  She's urging everyone to give up texting while driving. The show had families who had members that were killed in accidents due to distracted drivers who were either texting or talking on the phone.

In a later episode, celebrity Holly Robinson-Peete admitted she would consistently text or talk on the phone while driving. She and her daughter created a bumper sticker that stated

"Honk if you love Jesus -- TEXT if you want to meet him" 

 I watched the episode & found it so powerful & it really made an impact on me.  I hope it does the same for you.

 Click on link to watch the episode.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Watch-the-Full-Hour-Americas-New-Deadly-Obsession-Video

 

Most of us don't give up or stop doing something until it directly affects us.  Stop before it's too late.

     See full size image

 I invite you to take the pledge with me to take a stance against texting while driving.

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Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

I have ONE client who wanted me to text him when one of his homes was rented...it took him LONGER to explain to me how to do it than it would have to take my phone call or read my e-mail.

Jan 23, 2010 10:45 PM
Craig Richardson
National Realty - McLean, VA

Yvette, love the bumper sticker!  I completely agree, something has to be done.

Jan 23, 2010 11:12 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Yvette, my State passed a law making it illegal to text while driving. Good law! Thanks.

Jan 24, 2010 01:32 AM
Yvette Lopez-Robinson
The Real Estate Power Houses - El Paso, TX

Thank you to those of you that acknowledged the importance.  In Texas we don't have a lot of strict laws in place for texting but I'm sure that will change. 

Jan 24, 2010 04:07 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Hi Yvette,

I don't text....besides the fact I would need to keep putting my glasses off and on, I keep my phone in the back seat of my car while I'm driving. That way I'm not tempted!

Jan 25, 2010 07:50 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I saw the Oprah show and it brought tears to my eyes.  Seeing the pain in the eyes of the people who have lost loved ones and the pain in the eyes of the boy who had taken lives was very painful to watch.  I was stunned to hear that talking on your cell while driving (even with bluetooth) is equal to having had 4 alcoholic drinks and texting while driving is equal to having had 8 drinks!  That is beyond scary!  Even after taking the pledge not to text or use your cell while driving, you still have to worry about those other drivers who are doing it!   

Jan 26, 2010 02:23 AM
Yvette Lopez-Robinson
The Real Estate Power Houses - El Paso, TX

That's a great idea Joan keeping the phone in the backseat. I think I'll do the same.

Sharon - It really is a heartbreaking story & I made my daughter who does drives watch this episode. You're absolutely right, we do have to worry about the others who are doing it. I think there's more awareness now & hopefully more & more people will be impacted & jump on board.

Jan 26, 2010 05:22 AM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Whether I need to text, email, or talk, I pull over and stop the car to do it. People who think that they can drive while using their phones are mistaken and I wish they would stop.

Jan 31, 2010 06:35 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

I don't text while I drive.  (I am not that coordinated) LOL  I do talk with the blue tooth though. But when I do have to talk while I drive I try to be as careful as possible.  There have been some horrendous crashes in our area with people killed who were either texting or talking or both when they crashed.   There was even a train crash and it was later proven the operator was TEXTING AND IT CAUSED THE CRASH.

Mar 08, 2010 08:48 AM