For work, I am often "on call" and have to be accessible via cell and pager 24-hours a day. And personally, yeah, that Blackberry is kind of stuck in my hand or pocket most of the time.
But there are a few exceptions. Driving is one of them.
A huge one.
Don't text and drive. Don't email and drive. Don't Facebook and drive. Don't Tweet and drive. Just don't.
As some of you know, I work at a children's hospital and, while I am a marketing person, not a health care provider, I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of distracted driving. I know we have all had moments when we probably thought "I am better than that," "I am a good driver," "I'm just writing back a quick 3-word text," or "Nothing is going to happen."
But it can and it could and it does.
And if you are in a city that has passed hands-free laws (like Minneapolis, Chicago, New York and San Francisco) not only is it dangerous, it's illegal.
I was contacted by the team at Motorola because they were looking to get the word out about a new device they have to help people stay connected in, hopefully, a safer way. And they have released a new hands free device called the H17txt with Motospeak™ that reads your texts to you over Bluetooth and lets you customize automated responses, so you can put your cell down and stay focused on the road.
Clearly, this is something I feel strongly about. So I agree to do what I could to get the word out.
In honor of June being National Safe Driving Month, they are taking their Motorola’s “Get Smarter”™cars on the road. They'll be traveling around Minneapolis next week to educate and encourage consumers to drive more responsibly and legally.
So here's the scoop. If you start following Motorola on Twitter and Facebook you will automatically receive a chance to win your own H17txt with MotoSpeak. Then watch their Facebook and Twitter feeds for chances to win rides in Motorola’s “Get Smarter”™ car when there are in Minneapolis on June 18 and 19.
*I agreed to help spread the word about the importance of safe driving without compensation or incentive. However, subsequently, Motorola asked me if I would like to review the H17txt with MotoSpeak™. I will be reviewing that in the coming days.
