With today's world of technology and hand held devices, communicating with others can be done anywhere and at any time. Most people today own a cell phone and use it not only to talk, but also to text and surf the web. These devices are great and make our lives easier. However, there's a time and place to use them and driving is not one of those times.

Distracted driving is causing an increasing percentage of vehicle collisions, many of them fatal. Just recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation released the following commercial to express the importance of putting your cell phone down while driving.

Some statistics:

-27% of distracted drivers in fatal crashes are in their twenties.

-In 2012, more than 3,000 people were killed in accidents caused by distractions and about 421,000 people were injured.

The members of the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department strongly urge everyone to put down electronic devices while driving. No text message or phone call is worth the loss of a life.