Happy springtime! It’s finally starting to feel a bit more like spring nowadays, and I’ve seen some tulips popping up all over town. This time of year always puts a smile on my face: the grass is turning green, the sludge and gunk from a snowy winter are now just a memory, and I’m waking up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window.

Warmer weather also means that the neighborhood kids (and adults who act like kids) are out playing, walking, running, or riding their bikes. Spring for me means, while driving, I’ve got my sunglasses on, my windows down, and my music turned a little louder. I’m the first to admit that I’m not always the most responsible when it comes to driving, I do my best to put my phone down.

According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, while texting is most often associated with distraction in the car, other distractions include eating, drinking, grooming, DWI and passengers in the car. Some of these actions seem more innocuous than others, but all forms of distracted driving are reckless, cost money and endanger lives. The MO Eyes on the Road campaign encourages precautionary measures to curb the number of vehicle accidents due to distracted driving.

I urge you all to keep your phones away, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your eyes on the road. That text message can wait. It’s not worth a life.