Awareness is key.  Whether you’re talking on the phone, sending a text message, or even swapping CD’s, all of these basic tasks could take our focus off of the road while driving, leaving you less aware of your surroundings’ less aware of the road in front of you and the other drivers around you. 

A July 2009 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that texting while driving increases your risk of being in an accident by a factor of 23. 

I know the temptation to respond to a text message as soon as you receive it. We live in a society that holds connectivity and availability in very high esteem.  When you’re in your car and behind the wheel, you’re not available.  Pull over to the side of the road or wait until you get to your destination before sending a text message.  No message is worth the opportunity cost of taking your focus off the road and endangering the lives of you, your passengers, and other drivers around you.

Help spread the word about the dangers of texting while driving.  For more information on the campaign and to take the pledge to not text and drive, view AT&T’s Texting while Driving public education campaign.

Until now I thought 14,593 text messages were impossible for her to exceed; however I am once again proven wrong by my children.  Last month she broke the 25K barrier with 25,449 text messages in one month.  This is equivalent to over 800 text messages a day which is unbelievable.  One reason for the increase is she was out of school and dance for winter break which lasted about 2 weeks.  However, 25,449 text messages in a month is still a lot of messages for anyone.

I am considering looking up the Guinness World Record for text messages, as this could be the new record.  The teenagers today say thank goodness for wireless technology, however I am just thankful that unlimited text messaging is a feature that is offered and to which I subscribe.  Do you have teenagers that go to the extreme with text messaging? Did they ever exceed 25,000 text messages in one month?

Standard usage rates apply to text messages, depending on your plan.

During the dinner my children were caught eating with one hand, which made everyone curious as to what they were doing.  Then we realized what was happening, as my children were seen using their mobile phones throughout dinner.  They were texting while they were eating, although they claimed to just be checking the time. I guess no one uses a watch anymore?   The mobile devices at the dinner table seemed to bother several people, which then sparked some comments.  

Using mobile phones during the family dinner resulted in a new type of timeout, “mobile phone timeout.”  Do your children need a “mobile phone timeout” so they can have some quality family time?

Pretty great, right? Well I have good news! We have one Samsung Solstice to give away to one lucky reader.

Here’s how to enter:

1) Leave a comment here and tell us how the Samsung Solstice will help keep you calm, cool and connected.  Your e-mail address and phone number must be accurate in your comment so we’re able to contact you. Make sure you double check. (Don’t worry. These won’t be published.)

2) You can also enter by writing a post on your blog answering the same question. Just be sure to leave a comment here linking to your post so we know where to find it.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This sweepstakes runs from today, November 16 to Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. It is only open to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person. AT&T employees and members of their household are not eligible to win. The winner will be notified via phone on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009.

For complete contest rules, click here: http://att.centralcast.net/rules/.

Last month my daughter had 14,593 messages on her Samsung A737 phone.  The 14,593 messages is equivalent to about 486 messages a day, based on a 30 day month.  I do not know how this is possible given her schedule with high school and dance.  When I get home from work I have trouble watching one hour worth of TV.   Do you have teenagers that like to text message?

My daughter, a high school junior, needed a new dress for homecoming dances she is planning to attend.  She and her friends went shopping at the mall for new dresses, which is no different than when I was in high school (however I never bought a dress).  What is different is they were taking pictures of themselves in the dresses and emailing the pictures to several of their friends for their opinions.  I have noticed this new way to shop for homecoming dresses continued throughout the weekend as my daughter was receiving pictures of dresses from several of her friends.  As an observer this was very entertaining.

I thought about this, and am impressed that our children find new ways to use their mobile devices in addition to talking and texting.  This is the new way to shop in the 21^st century.