Do distracted drivers draw your ire?

Add comment May 23rd, 2008

There always seems to be a proposal to “do something” about distracted drivers, like Chicago did when it banned hand-held cell phone use.

Not a day goes by that I don’t see someone nearly cause an accident because the person was holding a cell phone in one hand and trying to steer with the other. Sometimes the person isn’t paying attention and nearly swerves into me (bike or car). Sometimes its a little thing like failing to signal, which also can be dangerous.

Although I think it’s a problem, I’m not sure I would support a statewide ban on cell phones while driving simply because I don’t know how you could enforce it consistently. Do we want police and state troopers watching for everyone with  a hand to his or her ear?

You could make the argument that having a law, and the threat of punishment, would be enough to get some people to hang up or use bluetooth. That would cut down, but not eliminate the problem.

What do you think?