Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Its Sunday evening, flipping through the channels, there is an episode of extreme home makeover and I love that show. (clearly a DISTRACTION from school work) Well, the story line for this particular episode was simple. The families daughter, Alex Brown was texting and driving and lost her life. She was a senior in high school and she answered a text minutes before she flipped her car while driving to school. Alex brown had her whole world taken from her because of a text message that couldn't wait. Her family is devastated, but they want to keep her story alive. They have started an organization called Buckle Up and Stop Texting (B.U.S.T) that helps tell Alex's story and inspries teens to stop texting and driving!Stories like this one are becoming more common these days. The sad news is that everyone knows the dangers of texting and driving, but they continue to do it. I know I do and i wish i didn't. I find myself making a more conscious effort to avoid texting while driving. I feel bad for the people who are obsessed with this dangerous distraction and can't put their phones down. These kinds of people put their lives in danger and others lives in danger. Driving has always been something to be extra cautious about, but with new technologies, distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of death. Yet, people continue to engage in these risky activities. I think the television show did a great job getting the message out to people that texting and driving is dangerous and can kill the driver and other drivers on the road. They showed ring bands to wear on your thumbs in order to prevent texting while driving. These are supposed to be a reminder of Alex Brown's death and a pledge to not text while driving. I really thought this was a great positive reinforcement, especially for teens who are just learning how to drive and who own a cell phone. I think as long as they keep spreading the word, people will start to be more conscious and think about safety. I also really think that it is very important for the Brown family to continue with their BUST program and continue going to schools and educating young drivers on the dangers of texting and driving. Their signed pledges are important because its really going to help people to put their phones down. I think most accidents are caused by young drivers texting, but adults do it as well. It is a constant, dangerous activity that way too many people engage in and something needs to be done before lives are lost one more text at a time. I hope that people start to become more aware of their safety and become more aware of other drivers on the road while texting and driving because no matter what everyone's lives are in danger. After seeing the episode tonight and reading an article in the November issue of cosmo, I think I am really going to start a pledge for myself in order to prevent being a distracted driver.