Cell phone use while driving

Hamilton City Councilman Al Mitchell recently expressed the need for regulation banning use of cell phones while driving.  He mentioned a few close calls he had that were caused by inattentive drivers talking on cell phones.  I have been amazed at the number of people I have observed who are talking and not paying attention to their driving.

It is incomprehensible to me how people have developed the habit of talking on a cell phone wherever they happen to be.  In the streets, in supermarkets, anywhere they happen to be.  There are devices that permit phone conversations without having the phone in hand.  The first couple of times I saw this I actually thought that I was looking at people who were talking to themselves.

Then I noticed the small device attached to their heads that was used to carry on the conversation.  That is an improvement safety wise when driving, but any distraction from the task of driving can have disastrous results.  Obviously many people do not consider that reality.  That is until it is too late.

Texting while driving has been responsible for fatal automobile accidents all over this country.  As an old man I have come to the conclusion that my age has something to do with why I consider anyone who texts while driving insane.  Or if that is too severe a judgment, then I submit that they are dangerously stupid.

It takes a split second to have a crisis situation confront a driver.  I think about driving the East Side Highway, especially at night.  I have had several close calls when deer darted out in front of me. I try to limit my speed on that roadway and my encounters with deer have been close calls, but not collisions.  I have wondered what the outcome might have been if I had been talking on my cell phone.    

As with everything else in today’s world politics can impact on the cell phone debate.  A libertarian recently said that there should be no new laws because we have too many of them now.  He said that many things divert attention from driving and mentioned eating or drinking a soda as examples.    

He sarcastically asked whether we should pass a law against those activities.  He then said that if a person was texting while driving and caused a fatal accident then they should be prosecuted for that.  I consider that thinking ludicrous and dangerous.

In spite of what he says, there should be a law against texting while driving.  And anyone responsible for the death of another person while engaging in that frivolous and stupid behavior should go directly to jail.  They should stay there for as long as they would if they had shot or stabbed another person to death.

Gene Williams

Editor

The First Edition