GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - This month 11 News is bringing you the dangers of distracted driving and asking you to "Just drive.” For many, that means putting down that number one distraction in the car, the phone.

So to prove that even the most phone-dependent person can survive without using their phone while driving, we took away County Commissioner Janet Rowland’s Blackberry for the whole day.

Zebra striped and always on, is how Rowland would describe her phone. "I have a Blackberry and I pretty much use it from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed at night," she says.

For the County Commissioner, it's more than a phone, it's a connection to her world. "Text messages and emails are things I use the most on it, but certainly phone calls as well," says Rowland.

So we took her little zebra-striped phone away to find out if it's possible for someone like Rowland to give up her lifeline for a day. Rowland says, "I think it's going to be a little tough, the closest I've come to this was when Verizon was out a while back."

During her busy day we checked in periodically to find out how she was doing. "It’s been about three hours since I've had my phone taken from me and it’s not been too bad. I was in public hearing and not using my phone during that time," says Rowland.

So far so good, but there's still plenty of hours left in the day, the next stop is the Republican Women's luncheon. Rowland says, "On the drive over is when I typically do all my returning phone calls, I use my ear piece but I use that time in the car that's otherwise dead time to return calls and I wasn't able to do that today. Usually I sit in the back of these types of luncheons and I return a few emails and text messages, I can't do that today. Probably just as well, it's kinda on the rude side. Although I do tend to put it under the table so no one can see it but I guess today I'll just visit with people, which is probably the best thing to do."

No phone, no distraction and she hasn't caved in and picked up the phone yet.

Five hours in row and another meeting, Rowland says for the first time, not having a phone is getting to her. "Now and I'm realizing that my phone is like an appendage to me and I hear someone else's phone beeping and I think it's mine and I want to reach for it," she says. Maybe a little bit of withdrawal? "And I am a little anxious and anxious to get the phone back," says Rowland.

Nine hours later and the black and white finally comes home. "You know it was difficult and there were times I was a little frustrated not being able to check my calendar, or to schedule appointments but overall at the end of the day I got through nine hours, it didn't kill me, so I think we can do it without a little bit of technology when we need to," says Rowland of her experience.

And if she can do it for a day, anyone can. Especially when you're on the road, it could just save a life.

Join 11 News, Saturday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. for an 11 Cares for Safety Special Report: Just Drive. It’s an eye opening report on the dangers of distracted driving and you can't afford to miss it.