Actress Jenny McCarthy: "Of course I text and drive"

A news blurb has circulated over the last couple of days about an incident in which actress Jenny McCarthy was texting while driving and her 12-year-old son in the passenger seat phoned the police to report the activity. Responding to a reporter’s question about the event, McCarthy casually explained, “We're driving in the car and of course I text and drive. He called the police on me and said, 'My mom is texting and driving right now'. True story." She continues by gleefully relaying another "oopsy" from the McCarthy family blooper reel.

It’s easy to gloss over a story such as this in the wave of celebrity puff pieces that washes over us everyday, but chew on this one for a moment. The demeanor of all parties involved (besides Jenny’s son, who is made out to be the precocious and draconian "overreactor" here) is symptomatic of a serious problem: Despite laws, pledges, injuries, and deaths every day, texting and driving is still "a-ok" by most Americans.

How so? Let us illustrate: Try reading McCarthy’s response again, and replace the word “text” with “drink.”

“We're driving in the car and of course I drink and drive. He called the police on me and said, 'My mom is drinking and driving right now'. True story." 

All of the sudden, this story sounds a lot more serious, doesn't it? Surely, the police responded immediately to remove the intoxicated actress from the road, as she was recklessly endangering herself, her young son, and everyone around her? Surely, she was charged, found guilty, and slapped with a heavy load of community service and a hefty fine? Surely she was prohibited from driving for 6 to 12 months, forcing her to beg rides from friends and family or use public transportation, making it clear to all that she took a risk that proved she had no regard for her own safety or that of others? Surely, in order to avoid jail time, she paid at least a few thousand dollars in legal fees? Some combination of these penalties comprise the starter-kit sentence for DUIs in most states in our country, for defendants able to avoid being locked up for their crime.

Now tell us: Why is it that, when it has been proven that a driver seven times more likely to have a collision when texting while driving than driving drunk, a popular public figure is confident that she can nonchalantly admit to this behavior with little to no consequence? “I was texting and driving” would have been enough, but McCarthy unabashedly characterizes her action as both ongoing and obvious: “…Of course I text and drive” she chirps, as if to say, “Don’t we all?”  The indifference this serious subject is greeted with here is both tasteless and telling. 

We don’t know why, but the endless harrowing stories of young lives cut short by senseless texts behind the wheel just haven’t seemed to cement a social stigma that can even be mentioned in the same breath as the absolute taboo drunk driving has rightfully become.

In the eyes of our society, a drunk driver is selfish, reckless, a danger to society. We are disgusted by their willingness to toy with our lives and theirs.

Based on the tone of this article and countless others, a texting driver is “silly” at best.

The CDC reports that 9 fatalities and 1,060 injuries PER DAY are the result of distracted driving.

How many more people have to die for us to view the actions of a boy like Jenny McCarthy’s son in this story as responsible, even heroic, instead of mildly amusing?