They say that reformed smokers are the worst (in regard to being critics of those who continue to smoke).  I am not so sure about that.  In the last couple of weeks I have concluded that reformed automobile cell phone users are a bit more obnoxious than reformed smokers. I base this on my personal experience as both a reformed smoker (quit in 1986) and as a reformed automobile cell phone user (went cold turkey two weeks ago).  My recent decision to make my car (when not parked) a no-phone zone came after years of talking on the phone while driving.  I never texted while driving (I can barely text while sitting still and utilizing all my brain cells – forget about multi-tasking – driving and texting at the same time have always been beyond my ability).

Oprah’s no phone zone campaign has reinforced my resolve, but my decision arose out of a nagging realization that anything that distracts an operator in control of a potentially deadly weapon should be minimized from a risk management standpoint.  The bottom line was I needed to practice what I preach – sensible risk management.

The more I learn about the research done in this arena, the more horrified I am about the risk involved. I encourage folks to visit Oprah’s site (see http://www.oprah.com/packages/no-phone-zone.html) and look at some of the items she has amassed on this topic.  Even just talking on the phone (no texting, no dialing) quadruples your risk of an accident according to David Strayer from the University of Utah (he has been studying distracted drivers for 10 years). According to David, “For comparison purposes, someone who’s drunk at a 0.08 blood alcohol level has a four-time crash increase. So talking on a cell phone is about the same as driving drunk,” he says.  That is startling.

So now I am the reformed automobile cell phone user and I grow increasingly annoyed with folks taking unnecessary risks with not only their own safety but also others’ safety.  Yesterday I saw someone in a local business van full on texting while driving by Cheyenne’s school.  Kids walking and running around and this person is texting  while the van is moving.  The fellow almost ran up on another car based on his oblivion.  I wanted to give him a piece of mind, but I really have not enough left of it to give away so I settled for the second best option – I called the business he worked for and complained.  I mean really…two-handed texting in a school zone afterschool…you have to be high or stupid (or perhaps both).

I need all my wits about me to drive.  I do not want to be in an accident – it does not strike me as a good time.  Furthermore, I do not want the folks I care about to be in an accident because they are texting or talking on the phone or to be the victim of someone else who actually believes that they are effectively multi-tasking.

Yes, I am armed with an opinion that I am willing to share at the sight of a cell phone in a driver’s hand in a moving car.  I guess that makes me reformed and dangerous…but at least the danger is limited to having to hear my opinion.  I refuse to be a statistic or to create a statistic out of someone else just so I can talk on the phone in the car.  I am trying to stick around long enough to have those conversations in person for decades to come.

Please take a few minutes and learn more about the topic.  Consider reducing your risk by making your car a no phone zone.  Once you have stopped, if you want to start a reformed automobile cell phone user club – call me – just make sure you are parked somewhere. 🙂

Day two hundred and seventy-seven of the new forty – onla di obla da

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