Technology brings us wonderful things -- new ways to diagnose diseases, new ways to learn, new ways to communicate.

And new ways to kill ourselves and others.

This is an editorial we should not have to write. But with the growing popularity of iPods and cellphone-texting, we are obliged to say what should be obvious, but apparently isn't.

Sending text messages while driving is a dumb and dangerous idea that can kill people.

So is playing with your iPod while you're behind the wheel.

According to a soon-to-be-released study, drivers using an iPod are several times more likely to crash than drivers who are paying attention to the road. Given the increasing number of folks using iPods while driving, "this is just a disaster," said University of Massachusetts engineer Donald L. Fisher, the study's author.

Fisher found that on average, drivers twiddling their iPod while driving on a simulator turned their attention from the road to the iPod for at least two seconds -- a dangerous eternity in the world of driver safety that increases your chance of crashing by three times.

Likewise, a new study out of Great Britain demonstrates that the reaction time of drivers who were text-messaging while on the road dropped by 35 percent. That compares to a 21 percent drop in reaction time for those driving under the influence of marijuana and a 12 percent drop in reaction time for drivers with a blood-alcohol level that's over the legal limit. Steering control by drivers who were texting went down by an astonishing 91 percent.

Or maybe that's not so astonishing. Take your eyes and attention away from the road and at least one hand away from the steering wheel and -- shocking! -- you can't steer!

So do us all a favor: Pay attention while you're driving. Leave the iPod adjustments to the person sitting next to you. Or if there isn't someone sitting next to you, just suffer through that song that reminds you of the time you and your boyfriend broke up.

As for texting while driving, what can we say? If you don't realize how foolish and reckless it is to do that, then nothing we can say will convince you. But we'll try, anyway: Texting and driving can kill you, plain and simple. Is sending a message about dinner/soccer practice/what to get at the grocery store/can you believe what Johnny said to Janey really worth the risk?

R U SRYUS? :(