Safety Saturday: Nomophobia and Dstrctd Drvng (Mlt Tsk)

Are you a nomophobic?  Read more to find out.

When I first was asked to preview the NET television show, “Dstrctd Drvng,” I cringed.  Although I do not text while driving, except occasionally at stop lights, I definitely do talk on my cell.  After all, I have justified, when else can a busy homeschooling mom of four find a moment where no one is interrupting?  But I am pretty certain that I have been denying the truth.  That talking while driving is distracting to me.

In fact, being on my cell did contribute to a minor accident I was involved.  I was on the phone at the time.  While I maybe could not have avoided rear ending the woman (after all, she did basically come to stop in the highway merging lane), my chances would have been better.  I was five months pregnant at the time with my other three precious kids in the back.  The other car held a mom with her kids.  The results could have been catastrophic if any more speed would have been involved.  You would think that would have been a wake-up call for me.  But it wasn’t.

Watching the television documentary definitely caused me to open my eyes.  Not even just about driving, but to the fact that when I try to multi-task, I am crowding my brain and causing difficulties in processing.  I may think I am getting more done, but I am simply dividing my productivity.  This will be a hard lesson.  Learning how to focus and be all there will be a challenge.

Basically , I need to work on a negative condition I have developed.  According to ask.com, nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.  My smart phone can lure me in – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter – all at my finger tips.  Something to do to keep busy.  This device stops me from the two most important tasks:learning to be still and to enjoy those that are with me!  The ones that I can touch and converse with  and not just from a screen.

Dstrctd Drvng gives evidence that shows that driving while distracted is similar to driving drunk.  Although as my husband pointed out, if you decided to drive after having a few drinks, you are aware that you might need to concentrate more.  Those who are using cell phones really have no idea just how distracted that they are.  I know because I have been one of them who can suddenly not remember all the roads that led me to home because I was talking and not really paying attention.

Just the title of the show had convicted me enough to change part of my habits this week.  I made a point of not being on the cell with my kids in the car.  After all, they are often distracting enough.  But after watching the show, I am convinced that my phone belongs safely in my purse when I am in the car.  Close enough to reach in case of an emergency, yet far enough away to not be a temptation.  So, that is my new goal.  And I am going to try hard to be patient and let others call me back when they are not driving as well.  This habit might take me awhile to break, but I think the results with be worth it.  As was stated in the show, “the person sitting next to you is worth far more than a text.”

If you did not watch the show “Dstrctd Drvng” on Nebraska Public Television last night, you still have several more chances.

Dstrctd Drvng broadcast schedule

Author: neodyssey