As you well know from having to dodge them on the roads, drivers who are preoccupied with everything but...well, driving...are making life ever more hazardous.Indeed, the irresponsible dolts who endanger us all by mixing their driving with applying their makeup, reading a map, eating their lunch, or using their cell phone have increased in such a jeopardous degree that many states have begun legislation against them.
It couldn't come too soon.
However, as reckless as the above activities are (often as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs), there is a new danger that is rapidly drawing the attention of police and safety groups. That is the remarkably stupid practice of typing out text messages while driving. Estimates now suggest that a staggering 20% of all drivers are sending or receiving text messages while behind the wheel. And when zoomed in on younger drivers (18-24) that percentage soars to nearly 70%.
These figures add up to something quite terrifying -- death on the highways.
In one infamous example from New York last year, five young women, fresh from their high school graduations, were killed when their vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer. Police discovered the teenage driver had been texting moments before the crash.
And just a few days ago, a Utah man who had killed two men while trying to drive and text message at the same time was sentenced. But because Utah hasn't yet passed effective laws regarding this extreme danger, the perpetrator got off with a measly 30 days in jail and some community service. And this even though prosecutors had obtained cell phone records that showed the killer not only was texting from the time he left his home until the time of the crash, he continued to text message while being questioned about the crash by the police!
Legislators must take note. Government's first responsibility is to protect its citizens. And increasingly, the public needs protection from the perilous behavior of irresponsible, preoccupied and deadly drivers.
