There was
an article in the local paper today that again broached the topic of our
communications devices and their usage while we are driving. We have all read
these articles occasionally, but every now and again one brings up facets of
the topic with galvanizing statistics.
My epiphanal gasp this round centered on a State Farm statistic that
indicated 41% of drivers between 18 and 29 years old read social media posts
while operating their vehicle.
41%! (Pause
for dramatic effect...)
So what
this tells us is that approaching 1/2 of the people of that age group are not
only operating a vehicle while distracted, but operating them on public streets
with their eyes not even on the road for a good portion of their tour of duty. Think of that... Let it soak in.
Now, people
who make up that statistical segment, I ask you. Who among you would cut a board on a
table-saw while looking in another direction? Or maybe shave (guys) or apply
makeup (girls) without using a mirror? Better yet, who reading this article would
be OK undergoing an emergency appendectomy under the hand of a surgeon who is
distracted with the final four series playing on a TV in the corner?
Not the
same thing you say? You're right. A misguided automobile has the capability of
killing multiple people at a time. The surgeon can only kill one.
I really
haven't talked to one of my peers in fleet management who hasn't, at some time,
dealt with the tangible repercussions (sheet-metal, flesh or finance) of one of
their operators taking eyes off of the road for just a moment. These are
seasoned drivers in company-vehicles on company business. These are people who
themselves have at some point been impacted by the unwelcome side of chance and
are more apt to take reasonable precaution to avoid it.
So the take
away is this. No one can anticipate every aspect of their drive-time; how the
actions of others can require you to make a split-second decision. There are
variables that you can't possibly know of when you pull out of the
drive in the morning. So we owe it our best effort to try to not be one of
those variables ourselves.
Life is
short, and it can get shorter quickly with inattention. Think of that when you
slip the iPhone into your hip-pocket on the way out the door tomorrow.
©
2015 D.W. Williams
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