Think before texting and driving

Despite the passage of considerable time, sadly this topic is still one worthy of second thought and action.

Fourteen years ago, my husband was killed in a senseless, tragic motor vehicle accident. A girl talking on her cellphone while driving lost control of her vehicle and was witnessed weaving across narrow highway lanes, forcing my husband over the guardrail. His car fell approximately 60 feet.

He was taken to a local hospital with a brain bleed and numerous fractures of the cervical and thoracic spine.

After 26 days in a coma, my beloved husband and my daughter’s best friend passed away.

At the hearing, when the judge asked her whether she had been talking on her cellphone, she lied and said no.

Her cellphone records proved otherwise. Prior to the hearing, the state’s attorney informed me that she would serve no prison time.

She had graduated as class valedictorian and was attending a prestigious university. She had her whole life ahead of her. She was given 100 hours of community service at a rehab facility. Such a travesty of justice! What about my husband’s life?

Dear Annie:

It would take too many words to express the depth of the pain of loss our daughter, my husband’s sisters and I have felt every day for 14 years and will continue to feel. At my husband’s calling hours, so many of those present — bosses and co-workers alike — commented to me about what a professional gentleman he was. To all his family and friends, he was a gentle, caring human being who will be forever missed.

All of you who use your cellphone while driving, please, please stop. This was my husband’s pet peeve.

— Forever Heartbroken Dear Forever Heartbroken:

I am so sorry for your loss.

Readers, if you text while driving, it’s not a matter of “if” you get into an accident but “when.” If you have trouble resisting the urge to look at your phone, consider installing an app such as Live2Txt, which blocks all incoming texts and calls while you’re driving. For parents, there’s Cellcontrol, a device that can be installed in the dashboard of a car and paired with an app that prevents your teen from texting while driving.

Thank you for raising this important issue. If your letter causes even one person to think twice before texting while driving, it just might save a life.