It
is not the
'potholes'
that are created and deepened after winter's deep freeze.
It
is not the 'sink
holes'
that suddenly & mysteriously appear.
It
is not the
'stop and go lights'
that fail to function.
It
is not the 'fog'
that rolls in off the lake...obliterating drivers' vision.
It
is not the man
'imbibing himself'
enroute home to still his depression.
It
is not the woman who
'consoles herself'
with just 1 or 2 drinks...
then carries out wifely duties to drive her kids home from school.
It
is not the guys who 'open
a case of beer'
to enjoy
while driving to a 'wild weekend' of.....?
It
is not the teens who 'risk
all just for the fun of joy-riding...or daring themselves'
while
driving with the mentality that it'll
never happen to me/us!
It
is not the driver who continually travels
exceedingly over the speed limit.
It
is not necessarily the daughter who 'steals
mother's car' just
for revenge...
or for the simple joy of doing so...or with friends to arrive at
prohibited
destinations unacceptable to parents' decrees.
Have You Guessed ~ What is Today's Greatest Road Danger???
It
is the 'Stupid
Individual' (whether
man,woman, teen or under-ager)
who gets behind the wheel...and as part of the ritual, needs his CT
to forever be in communication with his friends!
Their morale? Oh, What Mocking Fun it is ~ to do as he/she
pleases...or just to prove that they are invincible and beyond
judgement of Road Regulations while driving! The RISK is DARINGLY
FUN!
The
second most danger...is
the person(s) who ride with these carelessly ignorant drivers!
They're just as NUTS to do so! The drivers' hand-held damn phones, to
them,
demand immediate attention...ignoring all safety measures as
required by law!
From my writings to you, my dear readers, you're aware I've driven
thousands of miles...whether country roads, paved secondary roads,
highways, thru-ways and Interstates. I've only had 2 FEARS:
a speeding reckless driver who unable to 'cut in' is forced, himself
(or me) to take to the ditch...or be involved in a head-on collision!
The second fear is that an inebriated driver is under no control.
Today: I have a Third Fear ~ thanks to Technology!
Those drivers who have that 'inert drive' that they cannot live
without...hand-held telephones! It's a phobia that THEY MUST USE and
MUST RESPOND TO...in order to be sociatal in today's lifestyle!
They RISK their lives...they risk YOURS and MINE!
My
Third is: I FEAR FOR MY LIFE on today's roads!
Distracted
Driving...
In a Special to TORSTAR on September 8/17, Larry Lantz, president of
The
Trillium Automobile Dealers Association,
previously appealed to drivers who continue to engage in activities
that divert their attention from driving (by talking and texting on
their mobile phones, reading, shaving, applying makeup, combing
hair, tending to other dash gadgets, etc.) To that article, Louis at
age 81, responded: “It
is not the end of the world if you pick up your phone while driving,
but it could be the end of your world. Is it worth the risk? Don't
be tempted! Put your phone on the back seat before you drive. Be
safe and stay alive. He
signed it: A
Concerned Grandfather.
In
another letter from Chris, a road safety advocate, thanked President
Larry for his taking a position of zero
tolerance on dangerous driver behaviour.
Chris commented that despite all of the current efforts to curb
Distracted Driving ~ increased driver education, redesigning roads,
lowering speed limits, enhanced police enforcement, automated speed
and red light enforcement, harsher fines, etc. ~ we are not making
much progress. Many of the proposed solutions require government
legislation.
Technology has contributed to the problem...
and it can also be a huge part of the solution.
Larry
Lantz further wrote: The common message from his reader audience was
that “Distracted
Driving reinforces
the seriousness of this issue...and highlights how widespread
'distracted driving' has become. It now contributes to more deaths on
Ontario roads than any other driving offence. In 2016, 65 deaths
were attributed to 'distracted driving' ...more than one death per
week. We need drivers and passengers to call out others who are
talking
and texting
while they are driving...and we need to ramp
up
the intolerance of this type of activity.”
My
Simple
Abbreviated Solution
to passengers: Refuse
to Ride
with a Distracted
Driver:
SS: R2R with a DD!
Cliches
Garnered from Observers
In the late 1990's the following were quotes on the Web about driving
safely...
which started out mostly “dont' drink and drive'.
Today
it includes 'texting
and cell phone use while driving...
(driving
while “intexticated”,
as
they say)
and other destructive decisions!
Please be responsible and cautious out there! Many lives are at
stake!
“Drinking
and Driving:
there are stupider things...and currently, the stupidest is
Distracted
Drivers!!!
No
person should suffer the tragedy of losing someone as a result of any
of these 3 offences...which claim the lives of thousands of people
both in Canda and United States. Let us all pledge to always drive
sober and always be alert to avoid distractions behind the wheel.
Baseball is like driving ~ it's the one who gets home safely that
counts.
(Tommy Lasorda)
It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble anautomobile...and one nut to
scatter it all over the road.
(Author unknown, as seen on a
bumper sticker.)
American Proverb: A tree never hits an automobile except in
self-defence!
Texting while driving increases the risk of accidents 23.2 times
over unimpaired driving.
A legally drunk driver needs four additional feet to begin
braking;
whereas,
a 'texting
driver' needs 70.
(Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.)
Recklessness is a species of crime...and should be so regarded on
our streets and highways. (Marlen E. Pew)
The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.
(Dudley Moore)
Robbins B. Stoeckel states: “Automobiles are not ferocious...it
is the driver who is to be feared!
Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...September 10, 2017
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