We notice more of a police presence on the roads and highways as we are driving by. On the way home from a midnight run to the local drugstore, we run into a sobriety checkpoint. It is probably a holiday weekend and the police are out to protect us from ourselves and each other. But what about the danger we put ourselves and others in when we insist on driving while distracted?
As we are because more connected through our technology, there are more things to be distracted with as we zoom off on the highway. Several years ago we had enough to be distracted with there was the radio, the kids and, for some, putting on make-up or shaving. Now we have cell phones, smart phones, DVD players, satellite radio and talking GPS systems that have our partial attention
The laws have cracked down on drunk driving in the effort to make our roads safer. If caught driving while intoxicated, you will be paying fines in the excess of a thousand dollars, you will be taking alternate transportation to work and could possibly spending some time behind bars. The laws regarding the many activities that we can find ourselves engaged in vary from state to state. And the punishment used to remind us to pay attention to the road is a fine ranging from $25-$50. However, most distracting activities are perfectly legal.
An argument could be made that we just as dangerous driving while distracted as we are while intoxicated. One may be to do all these things and drive relatively well because they are sober. You are driving on the interstate while getting the latest stock quote only to find that the stock has plummeted. You will probably run through a multitude of emotions, maybe check the information again or perhaps start to make frantic phone calls. And this is all going on while you are still engage with driving your vehicle on a traffic congested highway.
Regardless of the argument, driving a car down any street has too many variables, that to not be giving 100% of your attention is a disaster in the making. Your life or someone's can change just the moment that you decided to look over and read what song and artist is playing on the satellite radio display.
Drunk driving has been an issue for quite some time and the laws are firmly in place. The process of determining guilt for drunk driving is relatively fool-proof. The laws regarding the use of electronics while driving have to catch up with the times. Technology is moving too fast for the long process of creating laws to catch up.
Even though it is illegal to drive while texting in many states, not many tickets are being handed out to those in violation. Texting is too hard to prove, unless it is blatant. Blatant as in both arms resting on top of the steering wheel and texting with both hands. There too many other activities that can be mistaken as texting.
Putting aside arguments and statistics, how easy will it be to explain to a grieving family why it was more important that you send that text than to worry about the safety of their loved one?
As we are because more connected through our technology, there are more things to be distracted with as we zoom off on the highway. Several years ago we had enough to be distracted with there was the radio, the kids and, for some, putting on make-up or shaving. Now we have cell phones, smart phones, DVD players, satellite radio and talking GPS systems that have our partial attention
The laws have cracked down on drunk driving in the effort to make our roads safer. If caught driving while intoxicated, you will be paying fines in the excess of a thousand dollars, you will be taking alternate transportation to work and could possibly spending some time behind bars. The laws regarding the many activities that we can find ourselves engaged in vary from state to state. And the punishment used to remind us to pay attention to the road is a fine ranging from $25-$50. However, most distracting activities are perfectly legal.
An argument could be made that we just as dangerous driving while distracted as we are while intoxicated. One may be to do all these things and drive relatively well because they are sober. You are driving on the interstate while getting the latest stock quote only to find that the stock has plummeted. You will probably run through a multitude of emotions, maybe check the information again or perhaps start to make frantic phone calls. And this is all going on while you are still engage with driving your vehicle on a traffic congested highway.
Regardless of the argument, driving a car down any street has too many variables, that to not be giving 100% of your attention is a disaster in the making. Your life or someone's can change just the moment that you decided to look over and read what song and artist is playing on the satellite radio display.
Drunk driving has been an issue for quite some time and the laws are firmly in place. The process of determining guilt for drunk driving is relatively fool-proof. The laws regarding the use of electronics while driving have to catch up with the times. Technology is moving too fast for the long process of creating laws to catch up.
Even though it is illegal to drive while texting in many states, not many tickets are being handed out to those in violation. Texting is too hard to prove, unless it is blatant. Blatant as in both arms resting on top of the steering wheel and texting with both hands. There too many other activities that can be mistaken as texting.
Putting aside arguments and statistics, how easy will it be to explain to a grieving family why it was more important that you send that text than to worry about the safety of their loved one?
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