You've heard this before. You've probably read an article just like this one before. I don't care- I'm writing and sending it out to the world anyway. We all need to hear this!

Look, we all know we aren’t supposed to have our phones anywhere near the wheel when we’re driving. And, yet, far too many people have this invincibility complex- this notion that they are somehow not only above the law but also above statistics and research.

Speaking of statistics and research, I read that citing that texting is attributed to 1 in 4 car accidents. 1 in 4!! I also read that driving while texting is 5-6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk. That’s just inexcusable. How are we not deeming this an absolute, national emergency? How are we not treating this with the same regard, anger, and passion that we do with drunk driving?

We should be arresting people, suspending their licenses, making them complete classes and/or counseling to reinstate their privileges to drive.

All of this makes me so angry. As more and more millennials and Gen Z’s get behind the wheel, we’re having more people on the road who’ve never known a life without technology. They’re connected 24/7 in every capacity from social media to mindless selfies to emails from work that just won’t quit.

If we can’t disconnect at any other point throughout the day, we’re only setting ourselves up for failure by just hoping that people disconnect when they’re driving.

I want the government to take more action. We have to take more action. How many lives will need to be sacrificed for our philosophies and mindsets to change? How many times will we need to honk at careless drivers swerving into our lane or sitting with their head faced down at a red light turning green?

Drunk driving is still a problem, but it’s socially condemned now. It’s acceptable to take people’s keys and call a cab or Uber if they’ve had too much to drink. It’s not acceptable to be a passenger in someone’s car and insist the driver toss his phone in the trunk- where he won’t have temptation to the lights and vibrating buzzes.

As a society, we can do better. Let’s let technology continue enhancing our lives- not destroying them- not mercilessly killing people on our streets.

If you’re reading this, I urge you to think about these words- to consider them the next time you feel tempted to glance down at your screen or shoot a quick message. You are not the exception, and you are not special. Just because you’ve gotten away with it 1,2, or 1000 times before doesn’t mean that you aren’t putting yourself and infinite people around you in danger.

Stop being selfish- the text can wait.