Texting While Driving - With Video

I wonder, why is this such a big debate? America is amazing. Our government can pass $787 billion in debt spending in record time, but we are still fussing about texting while driving. It makes no sense - texting shouldn't be done while driving. It is a SERIOUS driver distraction. However, it seems that everyone does it. When I owned a car, I did it. I did it because I felt I would remain in control of my car at all times, because OTHER drivers are the ones who don't drive proactively.

I am a firm believer that if you focus on driving and drive with the mindset of doing everything possible to avoid an accident, almost any accident can be avoided, except for instances like rear end collisions, those caused by a tire blow out, hitting black ice, avoiding or striking an animal or road debris, or mechanical failure of the vehicle.

I have been in three accidents - the first one was a single vehicle accident where I was speeding and ignored a sign on an unfamiliar road. I went airborne and almost totaled my car. The second one happened in a parking structure when the driver of a Corvette rammed into my Audi when his floormat bunched up under the pedals. When he pressed his brake, the accelerator was floored as well. When he let up on the brake...BLAM. He slammed into me, then his shifter went into reverse and he slammed into the wall behind him. His car was totaled. In the third accident, I was driving a Mini Cooper when the driver of a cement mixer was speeding on a blind, curved residential road. He couldn't stop in time as I was making a left turn into a driveway.

But there have been several situations where I avoided accidents simply because I was proactive and let the crazy driver have his way n order to avoid a collision.

Now that I live in Atlanta, I see every day just how bad drivers can be. I'm from LA, have been driving for 22 years in all sorts of situations and have never seen so many drivers blatantly disregard safe driving practices. I love to drive and I miss it sorely, but the tailgating situation is so bad here, I question if I really should drive again.

Because of the prevalence of texting while driving, the persistent tailgating and the frequency of awful accidents that for some reason tend to happen here on a daily, I will NEVER text while driving. In fact, I won't talk on the phone while driving. Even with a hands-free device. When I consider those crazy, irresponsible and selfish drivers out there, the risk isn't worth it.