Texters threaten by foot, not just by car
Already, using cell phones or sending text messages has proven to be a cause in many traffic accidents, prompting legislation such as the new California law aimed at dangerous cell-talking drivers. But just getting yakkers and texters off roads and out from behind wheels won’t solve everything — not when they’re also yakking and texting while they navigate the nation’s walkways.
That’s why Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill which would impose a misdemeanor and a $25 fine on those who are actively cell-calling or texting while crossing a street.
That may sound silly on the surface, but the fact is, people have died or been seriously injured as a result of paying no attention to watching where they walk. In Britain, it’s even estimated that 6.5 million people have been injured due to texting while walking. So what do we do? Pass laws — though that can do only so much. But while we can’t fully legislate common sense, we can try to instill in our increasingly distracted world a greater focus on safety and consideration, rather than recklessness and self-absorption. The proposed law, at least, is a start.
Of course, this doesn’t mean a distracted texter won’t run into you on a sidewalk and knock you over. But it does mean that perhaps we’re starting to get the message about a life lesson our parents should have taught us from the get-go: Watch where you’re going.
Yes, it sounds simple, but it’s also vital, and in today’s multi-tasking world, it’s becoming a rarity. Getting from Point A to Point B should be our primary task if not our sole focus, whether it’s by car or by the soles of our feet. And when it’s not, accidents will happen. BTW, that’s no LOL thing.
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Cell phones are most certainly a distraction while driving. Anyone driving a heavy automobile needs focus so as not to collide with others. But 6.5 million people injured from texting while walking. Wow!