Accidents happen because they are accidents. That is to say, if we knew they were coming they wouldn't be accidents. Here's a couple of definitions. "An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm" (Merriam Webster). "An unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury." (Wikipedia).

Accidents are accidents because they are unexpected. One cannot predict that while driving, for instance, one can always be safe. Because there will be accidents and because they are accidents we don't know when they will come. Are we on the same page here?

Some folks will tell you that they can drive and text and it is never a problem. But I have seen drivers not even realize that they had caused a problem because they are distracted. Think about it. You don't know what you didn't pay attention to. If you caused a problem because you weren't paying attention then you probably don't know even now that your inattention caused the problem. In fact, there may be hundreds of problems that you caused while you were texting that you don't even know you caused. Are you still with me?

Accidents are accidents because they cannot be predicted. It is precisely that which is unexpected that jumps out in front of us, that veers in from the side - something we didn't expect - that will cause the accident. And we can't predict when those will come so we need to be fully alert and ready for them anytime.

Accidents are accidents because they cannot be predicted but there are some behaviors that can predict that accidents are more likely to happen. "Those who engage in text messaging while driving are eight times more likely to be in a crash than drivers who don't." (http://www.startribune.com/local/120326894.html)

Today, law enforcement is promoting a one-day crackdown on distracted drivers in a statewide campaign to stress the dangers and reduce crashes. Hooray, I say, as I put away my cell phone. It's a risk to drive while talking, even more so while texting. I am pledging today that I will never text and that I will try to cut down my driving while talking to a minimum. I hear my mother in the back of my head saying, "You better cut it out altogether". She won't let me talk to her while driving. Once I was talking to her on my cell when I was caught in a fender bender. She heard me yell, then heard the crash and then we lost contact. I didn't get back to her for thirty minutes. So don't do this to your mom, okay? Or yourself, or the somebody's kids.