Oprah Writes Texting Op-Ed: 'Dnt Txt N Drv'

Oprah Winfrey has taken to the op-ed page of the New York Times to advance one of her most high-profile causes: convincing people to stop texting while driving.

Here's an excerpt (read the full piece here):

At least 6,000 people were killed by distracted drivers in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the number is rising... But we are hesitant to change. I saw this firsthand when I instituted a policy at my company that forbids employees from using their phones for company business while driving. I heard countless stories about how hard it was for people to stop talking and texting while driving. Everyone is busy. Everyone feels she needs to use time in the car to get things done. But what happened to just driving?

It was difficult for my employees to adjust, but they have. Life is more precious than taking a call or answering an e-mail message. Because even though we think we can handle using our cellphone in the car, the loss of thousands of lives has shown we can't.

Oprah has also created a 'No Phone Zone' pledge website, asking people to promise to "help put an end to distracted driving by committing to drive as responsibly as I can."

Here's a map of the various laws governing cellphone use while driving in different U.S. states.

Comments

[Ikkru]

01:43 AM on 04/28/2010

Since when dod Oprah own a cell phone? She was on Larry King a few years back, and they mentioned the fact that neither of them had one.

[stayinschool]

04:05 PM on 04/27/2010

One of my favorite driving activity is watching someone turn left or right really wide and slowly and when I peak at the driver, they are usually on the phone trying to turn with one hand. I hate that.

[IndyGuy13]

12:38 PM on 04/27/2010

I'm sure we'll see a decrease in texting while driving, now that Text and Driver Magazine is out of print.

http://www.indianapoliser.com/2010/04/our-dying-media.html

[harmonikasavingsbonds]

09:12 AM on 04/27/2010

Don't LIE about being abused, either.

[yphili184]

08:58 AM on 04/27/2010

How about a campaign to end texting, while at dinner with friends!

[AppleJuiceJunkie316]

08:22 AM on 04/27/2010

why does oprah's boobs look so big in that picture? Yeah, you shouldn't text and drive, its stupid and kills far too many unnecessarily. They say texting drivers are as bad as drunk drivers.

[armyof14USA]

02:20 AM on 04/27/2010

Human will always be human, defying laws of nature even when we know no one of us can defy mortality. We are prone to adventure, excitement even when some of the things we do can be fatal. for instance, Driving under the influence is dangerous and deadly but people still drink and drive, smoking cause cancer but we smoke regardless of consequences. Oprah, like many before her who felt the need to bring texeting while driving to public domain will not solve the problem but minimize it and that's all we can do.

[samoisdead]

01:35 AM on 04/27/2010

I'm not going to read all the snarky, hateful, terrible and mostly race driven comments. I do commend Oprah though, this is a very serious issue and I thought this was the Huffington Post. You would think that these so called liberals would have something positive say.

[dreamer1]

03:39 PM on 04/26/2010

Funny that Oprah would jump on this campaign when she doesn't even drive herself. Nonetheless, its a good message. We're all guilty of doing it, even now when we know its more dangerous than ever. While your texting and driving, I'm texting and driving...that's just a set up for a bad outcome.

[bibimimi]

02:44 PM on 04/26/2010

Texting while driving thins the herd. Problem is, they occasionally take smarter people with them.

[AppleJuiceJunkie316]

08:23 AM on 04/27/2010

thats the unfortunate part, if only the dumb people could wipe themselves out the world might be a smarter place. By the way, I hate this new comment section.

[larry278]

09:52 AM on 04/26/2010

Tyoi: Ig should read If

[larry278]

09:51 AM on 04/26/2010

Ig Oprah can get people stop from texting while driving, right on.

[toocoldout]

09:08 AM on 04/26/2010

Way to go Oprah! I think she's fantastic & love what she's doing.

[lmab]

08:28 AM on 04/26/2010

She was great on Saturday Night Live.

[ItHasToBeSaid]

07:07 AM on 04/26/2010

Many of you need to just grow up.

Whether you like Oprah or not, disregarding an obviously proactive, commonsense stance simply because she is the one who is advocating it is just s2pid. Completely illogical. I have yet to read a comment that offers an acceptable reason for continuing to text and drive. Those of you who are whining,
'I'm so tired of her,' and 'She can't tell ME what to do,' will eventually have to comply when laws are changed (as they've already been in some states) and it becomes illegal to talk/text while driving. So what you refuse to do now due to your immaturity and lack of commonsense will be forced upon you by lawmakers. Either way, you'll do it.

Unbelievable . . . some of the comments on this thread must have been made by 'adults' who still stomp their feet and hold their breath when they don't like what they hear -- no matter how CORRECT the message is.

[Lilly-G]

03:24 PM on 04/26/2010

great comment.

[Danielck62]

06:00 PM on 04/26/2010

Agree with you 100%. I am not the biggest Oprah fan, but she is right about this issue and we should not diminish the importance of the message only because we may or may not like the messenger.

I am a motorcycle rider and it is already bad enough out there with drivers not paying enough attention to spot a motorcycle on the road under normal circumstances, let alone while trying to type and drive. People, you could kill someone in a car, a bike, a motorcycle, or even a pedestrian. Is whatever you need to text worthtaking a life while risking your life and lifestyle (no texting in jail!)?