Boilermaker and Beyond

This week Governor Cuomo instituted ‘Operation Hang Up’ signaling a week long increased focus by law enforcement against cell phone/ texting usage while driving.  I think this is great because I’ve often felt the laws banning mobile device use was a ‘kinda’ law. A ‘kinda’ law (my words and definition) is one that’s on the books but is generally not followed by a large portion of the public. I can’t remember when I have driven when I haven’t encountered at least one person driving with a cell phone at their ear.

People really love their cell phones and texting. I convinced that over time we will develop ‘text neck syndrome’ as people bend their neck hypnotized by the glowing screen. I recently saw a video of a young lady who was texting and walking and didn’t notice orange cones around an open manhole cover; I think the 20 foot drop grabbed her attention!

Why, as an advocate of the running and walking public do I care? Well think about crossing a street, the light is red and the crosswalk signal says it’s safe to cross. When we step out into the street we are totally depending on trust that the two ton metal beasts that prowl the roads will stop for us. As we share the streets each of us has an obligation to pay attention because bad things have a tendency to happen really fast (I think it’s an unwritten law of physics).

There is hope, in 1985 New York State passed the mandatory seatbelt law, prior to that time voluntary usage hovered around 50%. Today (27 years later) compliance I believe is in excess of 90%. The challenge will be to instill upon young people who both are inexperienced drivers and are perhaps the mega-texters to put down ‘the magic box’ when the key turns the on the car.

So as much as you feel the need to send that LOL text to a friend as you are barreling down the road please don’t because I kinda don’t want to get hurt.