Consequences of Distraction

With travel times of usually two hours or more, my teammates and I discuss a whole host of topics en route to our tournaments. Some of these eclectic topics include (but are not limited to) chapel services, our classes, our professors, the newest episode of GLEE, who just got engaged to who, the crazy things our playing partners do on the course, what we ate for breakfast, how cool we look in our uniforms, etc. But it’s not surprising that on one of these trips the issue of texting while driving came up, especially considering we were surrounded by dozens of Chicago commuters typing away on their phones as traffic became increasingly backed up. Despite the unlikelihood of a major accident occurring at such low speeds, the girls and I began to share stories about all the people we knew who had been in texting-related crashes. As part of this conversation, one of my teammates shared a British public service announcement with the rest of us that apparently is too graphic to be shown on American television networks.

This drama obviously plays on several fundamental, raw human emotions, namely guilt, grief, anger, and fear. The sheer gruesomeness of the girls being battered around the car- the blood, the sound of snapping necks and breaking glass- is enough to sicken my stomach and make me want to turn my eyes away from the screen. But I don’t; I just keep watching. Why? Mostly because I’m hoping one of them will make it out alright. Indeed, the driver survives the crash. She remains trapped in her car, surrounded by the beaten bodies of her now dead best friends, alone in the knowledge that their deaths are a direct result of her actions. This is the moment where guilt and grief take hold, not only of the teenage girl in the video, but also of me, the viewer, as I imagine how totally disgusted I would be with myself if I had caused such a tragedy. These emotions are magnified as I learn that a little girl has also been affected. My heartstrings continued to be pulled while she cries out for her lifeless parents and her baby sibling is declared dead. The video ends and I’m left feeling angry at the teenage driver for being irresponsible at the wheel, for causing a crash that destroyed multiple families. I additionally feel fearful that something similar could happen to me; I’m worried that even if I’m careful, someone else won’t be. 

In the last few months, AT & T has aired several commercials as part of its Txtng & Drivng Campaign:

All of these ads are excerpts from AT & T’s extended documentary.

 

Overall, the ads excel at addressing the serious and growing issue of texting while driving in our country. The first-hand accounts we hear open our eyes to the subtlety of this danger, and the simple, yet powerful slogan at the end of each video, “It can wait,” highlights the insignificance of a text message in comparison to human life. Like the British PSA, the campaign convicts us to rethink the harmful activities we engage in, and engage others in, while on the road. Personally, I have made a vow to not only to refrain from texting while I drive, but to also refrain from texting my friends and family while they are driving.  

In today’s world, where instant gratification and social media reign supreme, we are prone to engage in short-lived activities that may not require much thought, but make us feel good about ourselves, at least temporarily. All too easily, however, we are distracted from the truly important parts of our lives. In Philippians 4:6 we are instructed, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” In other words, Paul is telling us to not allow anything to distract us from our worship and communication with the Lord. Moreover, Proverbs 5:1 says, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding.” God desires our everything; He calls us to be “all in” for Him and nothing else. The accidents and fatalities caused by texting while driving are perfect examples of what happens when we don’t place our full attention where it belongs.