Do You Know Where Your Cell Phone Is?

Hopefully your cell phone is safely tucked in your purse, pocket or glovebox. How can something so small and so prevalent in our world today be such a big problem? Distracted driving has become a national epidemic.

The statistics are sobering with 28% of all accidents, 6,000 deaths and half a million injuries as the result of cell phone distraction either texting or talking. Drivers are 23 times more likely to have an accident when using a cell phone. Texting while driving has been banned and 6 states ban hand held phones but no states ban all cell phone use despite the fact that the University of Utah reports that their research demonstrates that the crash risk doubles those of driving with .08 alcohol blood levels.

A British campaign went viral with parents and schools requiring students to watch. The shock value aimed at impressing young people, the dangers of this rising problem. There should be no reason to be on your phone when you realize it could save a life or protect one. With a 30% reduction in focus and attention when using a cell phone while driving, it does seem to be a no brainer.

Oprah has focused her attention to No Cell Phone Day and has placed a policy in her company of no cell phones while driving to and from work, including the limousine company she hires. It has caused a bit of an uproar, but since her days as a national reporter working on stories about MADD, Oprah has seen the drop in drunk driving accidents from that campaign. She hopes this will be as effective. You can sign the pledge and be a part of the solution. That's exactly what a wise grandma will do. I am number 227855.

Mother Knows Best!

Go Green! Save the Planet! Global Warming! The warnings are days late and several dollars short. My mother was WAY ahead of the times because she was recycling before Webster made it an official word in the dictionary.

As the oldest of seven children, I can say with all sincerity that my mother taught us not only the value of a dollar but how to stretch the greenback until you could see through it. We learned to wash tin foil, rinse plastic bags, save twist ties and bread bag clips.

 

We saved every empty jar or plastic container. I never knew that Tupperware was an actual brand name. I thought it was a plastic container - any plastic container.

 

Recycling is in my blood. It is my nature and nurture that I find recycling to be not only an art but in these tough economic times, a matter of necessity. We should all make a firm new year resolution to return to the three Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle. BYOB - bring your own bag to the grocery store and reduce your carbon footprint a toe at a time.

 

It is cutting edge these days to be green. My 80 year old mother is green from head to toe and great grandkids are learning to follow in her giant footsteps for humankind and good old Mother Earth, because that is what a wise grandma would do.