Mirriam-Webster.com defines an epidemic as, “affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time.” Ladies and gentlemen, we have an epidemic on our hands today. According to distraction.gov, “ In 2010 3,092 people died from distracted driving and 416,000 people were injured.”

How many deaths will it take for us to recognize the magnitude of this epidemic? We need to realize our carelessness to end this epidemic for good. We can all reduce the above statistics if we make some personal sacrifices and respect our own lives and the lives of others.

This epidemic definitely has a cure but it is one that involves significant effort.

If you’re up for the challenge, here is how we can cure this epidemic. The first step involves internally recognizing that texting and driving behind the wheel is unacceptable, even while at a stoplight. Once we recognize this, we need to internally commit to stop this behavior.

Here lies the real challenge because we all know it is tempting to text and drive. However, if we want this epidemic to end, we must devote ourselves to respecting our own bodies and lives, caring about others, and having a more selfless outlook on life.

When one decides to text and drive, they are simultaneously not showing respect for their own life and being selfish; that person is not only risking their own life, but they are also risking the lives of other innocent people. It is like Russian Roulette; texting and driving increases the possibility of you injuring yourself and other innocent people around you.

When you make the decision to get behind the wheel, you are already taking a marginal risk; sending a text while driving loads the bullet into the gun and cocks it, increasing the chances of you seriously injuring yourself or another person. The consequences of gambling with your phone while driving could also result in your or another person’s death. Too many people lack the value of actually caring. We need people to start considering and respecting themselves and others.

It is simple: the end to the texting and driving epidemic rests in a solid commitment to care about yourself and others. When it comes to texting and driving, we tend to be careless about our own lives and the lives of others because we are so consumed by our “important” texting conversations.

Whatever it is that you absolutely have to text to someone can wait; it is not worth risking your life (or another’s life) to ask your friend about her date. Aristotle believed that it is impossible for one to be selfless because there will always be a selfish motive. Let’s prove that we can respect ourselves and be selfless to end this epidemic. This awful cycle will end when people merely begin to care.

Sincerely,

Jen Pash, Robert Lachenauer, Tony Thompson, and Nick Ramsey