Would you want to be driving in front of her and have to stop suddenly?
In 2007 in Washington State a law passed that made it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving without a head-set. However, it was a secondary offense, meaning one could only get a ticket if there was another infraction committed, such as speeding, or swerving.
The legislators noticed that despite the law, there has been an increase in car crashes and associated injuries with cell phone use and in March of 2010 they voted to make driving while talking on the cell phone or texting a primary offense. This revised law went into effect on June 10th and if ticketed, comes with a fine of $124.00 per offense.
Drivers who are distracted by the phone, eating, texting, even some conversations and music, aren’t as alert as those who just focus on the road and their route. Did you know that a driver talking on a cell phone is as impaired as a driver with a .08 blood-alcohol level? Did you know that a driver who is texting is as impaired as a driver with a .16 blood-alcohol level (double the legal limit)? Did you know that a driver talking on a cell phone will be half a second slower to hit the breakes in emergencies and missmore than half the visual cues seen by attentive drivers? (These facts are from the Washington State Department of Licensing).
While fictional, dramatacized and graphic (do not watch with young children near by), this video originated on break.com and viewed often on YouTube depicting the potentially fatal results of texting while driving is one you may want your teen driver to see (or may want to review occassionally yourself if you’re tempted to text while driving).
The New York Times did a series called “Driven to Distraction“. Make sure to check out the fun 3-minute game we featured in a previous post ( illustrating what happens when we drive distracted) and this quick video that features real people and shows interesting simulated distracted driving results.
The next time you go to send a text while on the road, don’t, or pull over if you must. If you have to make a call, only do so using a hands-free devise, and even then, remember that its not just important to keep our hands on the wheel, and our eyes on the road, we also need to keep our mind in the game and fully engaged as well.
Bottom Line: We’re just not as good at multitasking as we think we are and the road, behind the wheel, is a dangerous place to discover the truth. Is there any call, text message, email or other distraction that’s more important or more urgent then you life and the lives of others? We think not. Don’t drive distracted!
Thoughts? Comments? You know where we stand on this issue; we’d love to hear from you. (Just not while you’re driving).
On May 4, 2010 from Noon to 4:30pm the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce will be Celebrating Women in Business. The keynote speaker, Liesbet Trappenburg will present “You are Not Your Job! Creating Sustainable Work/Life Balance.”
Debbie has been asked to be one of three break-out speakers for this exciting event. Debbie will be teaching “Multitasking Makes you Stupid.” Learn why multitasking is not an effective productivity strategy. More importantly, learn how to focus on one task at a time, working free of distraction, so you can consistently get more of the important things done in less time. You’ll be able to implement some new productive habits immediately so that you can work smarter, not harder and get results.
They are expecting 100 Sammamish businesswomen and entrepreneurs at this year’s event! For more information or to register for this event, click here!
Life and work have been pretty “loud” lately. Business is thriving at Simply Placed and we’re doing some great things. Personally, I’ve had a significant event in our family, as my daughter prepared for and completed her Bat Mitzvah. That included a great deal of coordination and celebration with all the elements of planning a large event, including some guests in town.
I’ve been enjoying the quiet of time in my car when I’m commuting lately. Typically I would listen to music on the radio, perhaps the news if I needed details about traffic, the weather forcast, or just needed an update on what was going on in my community and the world. When I didn’t have the radio on, I would often listen to a book on CD. Filling my commute time in this way was both enjoyable and felt productive. Lately though, I’ve just been enjoying the quiet. No radio, no music, no news, no book. Its been wonderful to just “be”. Rarely do we have this opportunity.
When and where are you able to enjoy the quiet? In a favorite spot in your home? On a walk or run (me, I need the music from my iPod to keep me running)? The public library? During a daily reflection or meditation practice? Yoga class?
When this post is published, I will be enjoying vacation (automation helping me pre-write and schedule this for posting). This down-time will help me recharge my batteries and return in a better position to serve clients, encourage the Simply Placed team, market our services, and be a resource to those who need me. I will enjoy the quiet on my vacation.
Let us know how we can help you work smarter, not harder, to give you more time to enjoy some quiet in your life.
We recently came across this trailer for a documentary called ”Race to Nowhere.” This trailer shows how our kids are under so much pressure to perform well in school and extracurricular activities that they are feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unhappy. According to the students and teachers interviewed for this documentary, students are spending countless hours on homework each night, not eating, getting sick, and some have gone so far as to contemplate suicide as a solution to end their pain and stress. How devastating!
The goal of this documentary is to redefine success. Success is often measured by how much money you make or what you produce, but how great would it be if success was defined by how happy you are?
We find out clients are happiest when they feel good about their work/life balance. There’s a great quote I read that states, “You can do everything you want in life. Just not at the same time” (Barbary Sher). Take this to heart and prioritize. What’s important to you right now? What can wait? Do you have the balance you want in life?
Please take a few minutes to check out this Race to Nowhere trailer and then take some time to slow down and enjoy life!
Let us know what you think and how this trailer impacts you. We always love to hear from you.
