I would like to share a troubling observation in the hope that we can all work together to nip a serious public safety issue in the bud.

All too frequently we have all observed people texting and driving. I have gotten pretty good at spotting it over the years and what amazes me is that I have not yet witnessed a serious car accident. These people can literally go a city block without ever looking at the road. It angers me to think that one day, they are going to cross the center line and go head on into a car filled with someone’s loved ones and, then, oh how sorry they will be! (Providing they themselves survive.)

We have all read the news reports of people who were texting and driving and caused a serious accident and even death. Ask yourselves, is this any less hazardous than drinking and driving? I think in some ways it’s worse. You may be thinking that it must be young people who are doing this, and, for the most part, that is mostly true. However, I have also observed older people, persons in business vehicles, a police officer and even an ambulance driver who was not on an emergency!

I think we need to have a serious discussion about this dangerous behavior and demand strict laws that punish those who participate in it.

 

Scott Bute
Alden