No Phone Zone

Was I dreaming or did I really see an electronic signboard reading "No Phone Zone" ? My first thought was that OK they made Clara Barton Parkway a no phone zone but then thinking just a little more about it, it didn't make sense. You can't use your cellphone in any case unless its handsfree in DC...hmmmm

One person - Oprah Winfrey.

So this woman doesn't have quite enough power to create a national holiday, and I hope she never will, but some time back she declared April 30th the first national "No Phone Zone" Day and apparently several government agencies are backing the event. The talk show Queen has been advocating against distracted driving (defined as taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the wheel or taking your mind off of what you are doing). She began a No Phone Zone pledge which basically one signs and promises not to text or use hand-held phones while driving. What is even more interesting is that 200,000 people have taken the pledge :)

Check this out, research has found that talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples your risk of an accident. Texting (or sending email) on a  phone increases the risk eight times. The dangerous distraction is equivalent to having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 - the definition of drunk driving. Yikes!

Million dollar question now and be honest with yourself. Do you indulge in distracted driving? I do and right about now am feeling a tad bit guilty about it. So I'm signing the pledge and observing Apr 30th. For those interested here is the link to the pledge...think about it...No Phone Zone Pledge