5 Things Yo Ass Should Know {Distracted Ridin’}

On a recent late afternoon, Darling 1 and I made our way through early evening traffic. It was stop and go and stop and go. On one of the stops, an SUV behind me caught my attention in my rearview mirror. It appeared that she wasn't stopping.

I still had some room in front of me. I eased forward and pumped my brakes a couple of times to get the driver's attention. She finally came to a hard stop behind me.

I could see her face; she looked flustered while trying to appear unflustered, as if she meant to stop at the last second. Then, I watched her look back down at something in her hand and smile and then peck a message back, look up, look down and smile again.

This texting conversation kept up for many stops and goes on the crosstown even after she almost ran smack into me.

While stopped, I locked my eyes on her and when she looked up I mouthed, "Put Your Phone Down!" She didn't, but she looked a little shaken that I would dare to say something to her. Eventually, she exited, still pecking away at her phone.

My 6 year old son suggested I make a sign that I can hold up when I see someone texting or talking while driving that says, "PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN!" I think this is not a bad idea, but one that might get me shot.

Regardless, this incident has warranted a list of 5 things "yo ass should know" about driving safely without distraction, especially during this time of year when the streets get slick and the night comes so early:

1. Simply Put Your Phone Down (how many times are you going to make me say it?)
2. Texting while driving is a crime in a number of states and cities; don't break the law;
3. In the areas that it's not a crime to text or talk while driving, it's is a crime to negligently operate a vehicle and/or injure and/or kill a person;
4. Committing such a crime can and will result in a criminal prosecution and imprisonment; and
5. You don't get to use your car or your phone in prison.

So, please don't ruin your life or the life of someone else. Phone Down Eyes UP; it's that simple.

Oh, and an explanation on the change of the title of this series for this week is warranted. Thanks, to Jen from Life with Levi, I came across Gizoogle.net; a websites that parodies any article. Give it a shot. Just put in www.motherlylaw.com or another blog site and see what happens.

Anyway, Gizoogle.net turned 5 Things You Should Know into 5 Things Yo Ass Should Know. This made me and Will laugh; as did many other of the "translations" Gizoogle made in my articles. I thought it would grab your attention and this is a very important issue – TEXTING/TALKING WHILE DRIVING KILLS! Over and out...

Anna

Comments

[Julie H]

My boys and I always notice when someone is driving odd, i.e., slowly, swerving, or over reacting, they are usually talking or texting. I make sure to always point it out to them so they can realize how dangerous it is.

[Chris]

Thanks for posting, and I'm passing it on in Facebook--title and all!