Clarksville, Tn —  One of the very first things I noticed when I started riding, was how distracted everybody is while behind the wheel of their car.  It was a real “eye opener” for me.  I guess I was pretty naive about all of that.

Everybody is looking down and it REALLY pisses me off!

The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.  Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving, and 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the U.S is caused by texting and driving.

Our lives are so connected to the internet that our mobile phone has become our most addicting device.  We use it for everything. The very idea that people think that they can drive while using their cell phone is ludicrous.  It is just not possible to  concentrate on both things with the intensity needed to be safe.

How STUPID have we become?

For as long as I can remember, we’ve been fighting drinking and driving.  “Buzzed” driving.  Prescription drugs while behind the wheel, and to no avail.  We just don’t believe that it would “happen to me.”  I’ve even ridden with other bikers who check their cell phones while riding. And THAT my friend just blows my mind.

So what do we do?

Texting and driving is an epidemic and we MUST find a solution and do it soon.  Some states already have laws against the use of cell phones while driving.  Many people believe that it should be banned completely.

The biggest problem, of course, is enforcement.  Law enforcement agencies are undermanned already and they can’t enforce all of the laws that are already on the books as it is.

Unfortunately, the solution is literally in our own hands. We MUST change our driving habits.

WE MUST!  THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION!!

We shouldn’t wait until tragedy strikes to do something about it.  But, sadly, that’s what it’s going to take.  We are going to have to be affected personally before we change our attitude.

As a biker, I just ride as safely as I can.  I pray before each trip and I keep my eye on traffic.  It does no good to shout at someone in traffic to “Put your phone down” or “Pay attention.”  That just leads to road rage. (Read my take on that here).

Here’s a link to an interesting article about the subject.  The statistics listed in the article will blow your mind.  Find it here.

Ride safe my brothers and sisters.  Hope to see you on the road soon.

Photo credit: YouTube