An Open Letter To Distracted Drivers

Dear Driver,

My life matters. I will not be a statistic. I will not represent one of the “3,419 people killed due to distracted driving” (Distraction.gov). My wish is that you never experience this. Remember one of these 3,419 people killed every time you get behind the wheel of a car. Ask yourself if it’s worth it. Is that text message worth telling a mother that her daughter will no longer be coming home? Those three seconds you took your eyes off the road to pay attention to something else can represent the last three seconds of someone’s last breath. Is it worth it? Imagine your spouse receiving the news that you aren’t coming home or a daughter being told that her father won’t be able to give her away at her wedding. These scenarios happen every day. This is real. You are not invincible. It can happen to you and maybe at some point it will. I hope that you never have to experience this and when you decide to pay attention to the road this is something that you never will.

I don’t know why you think that a 160 character text is more important than someone’s life. I don’t know what is so important off to the side of the road that it requires your total concentration. I don’t know why you feel the need to put mascara on as you are merging onto the highway. Quite frankly, I will never understand any of these things. I do understand that distracted driving kills. I do understand what it is like to lose someone you love. I do understand that my life isn’t any less important than yours. I do understand that I can make a difference in this world if you let me live to be a part of it. You wouldn’t want this for yourself or for someone you love so why would you do this to someone else?

To everyone that is going to wake up this morning and text as they usually do or those who are paying more attention to their GPS system than the road; I am begging you to think twice before you send that text or look for directions on your navigation system. I am asking you to wake up 5 minutes earlier to put on all your makeup before you head out for the day. I hope that if you have been a distracted driver you will make a change for the better. I hope that you realize this epidemic is more than just your life at stake. I am asking you to pay attention. I am asking you to make a difference. Do not be a statistic. I hope that this reminds you that someone’s daughter, mother, son, brother, sister, child, father is behind the wheel of a vehicle today and because of your actions may not make it home.

Sincerely,

Your future victim.