It’s probably my No. 1 pet peeve. If not, it is easily in the Top 5.
It’s so annoying, in fact, that every time I see it, I outwardly express my disdain – whether I’m alone or in the presence of someone else.
What makes this even worse is that I myself have been guilty of it.
Hypercritical, right?
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
I’m so ashamed to admit it, but it’s something that I found myself doing even when I wasn’t aware of it. It’s almost as if it was an addiction of sorts. I had to get my fix, or in this instance, my text.
The sad thing is I knew that it was wrong. As a matter of fact, it’s not only wrong, it was stupid. That’s actually why I’ve decided to let everyone in on my little addiction.
I’m a recovering serial texter.
Long ago, I learned that the first step in finding a solution is admitting that you have a problem. Since I have an outlet such as the Recorder to express myself, I decided to take this antidote a step further by publicly professing my problem in an attempt to continually hold myself accountable.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
Like most addictions, texting while driving is a serious problem that can have disastrous effects – including death. Like most addictions, many of us feign for it. We value it more than we value ourselves.
And like most addictions, it’s not uncommon to think that we have control over our sickness, when in all actuality, it controls us.
Although I’ve been “clean” for several months now, I still get the desire to text while driving. Maybe the “itch” comes when I’m at a stop light and quickly glance at my phone to read the latest text message. It’s a business text and I need to reply, but, just as my thumbs begin to do the walking, the light turns green. As minimal as it may sound to some, laying the phone and waiting to text at a more appropriate time is incredibly hard for a recovering texter.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
But the “itch” doesn’t just come when I receive a text. I can be driving and thinking about absolutely nothing when – Boom…it hits me! I need to send someone a text about an urgent matter. Fighting the “itch” can be a very difficult thing.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
As I mentioned, I always knew that texting while driving was wrong, but for some reason, all logic went out the window when the “itch” came. Nothing could stop me. But then, I had an awakening. An epiphany of sorts.
I realized how unfair it would be if someone was seriously hurt or even died because I got the text “itch.” I also thought about everyone I loved and how devastated they would be if something serious happened to me because of the “itch.” Then I remembered two very close friends of mine who died in tragic car accidents: one was at the hand of a drunk driver, the other died at the hands of a crack addict. Neither of my friends was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Neither of their assailants died. Both of their assailants, however, scratched the “itch” that was tugging at them.
When I was honest with myself, I realized the people’s “itch” that resulted in the death of my friends was no different than my text “itch.”
It was a hard reality that I had to come to terms with.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
So as my “clean” days increase, I fight constantly to resist the “itch.” I also find myself wondering why elected officials in Indiana have not done as nine others states did and issued a jurisdiction-wide ban on driving while talking on hand-held phones. Or even take it a step further by making Indiana the 29th state to ban text messaging while driving.
I realize that had I not had my “awakening,” the only thing that would have stopped me from texting while driving would be if it were against the law.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
As I continue to take my recovery day-by-day, I’m happy that change may be coming to Indiana.
A couple of weeks ago, state Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, filed legislation that prohibits Hoosier motorists from using hand-held cell phones. His bill would allow Bluetooths and speakerphones to be permitted.
To aid in my own recovery, to help others who have the text “itch,” to save lives, and to honor the individuals who died as a result of a distracted driver, I hope that Holdman’s bill passes.
My name is Shannon Williams and I’ve texted while driving.
You can e-mail comments to Shannon Williams at ShannonW@indyrecorder.com.
