As winter approaches in a few weeks and with the sun setting by 5 p.m. (Friday, December 22, will be the darkest day of the year), we must remember, as drivers and pedestrians, to be wary of others on the roadways. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly three years ago, many more people have taken to the streets to get some fresh air and exercise, and drivers must remember to be careful, particularly when it gets dark out. And walkers, runners, and bicyclists should not assume that motorists can see you; particularly when navigating around leaf piles into the center of streets, be sure to look out for vehicles, wear reflective clothing, and use flashlights.
Particularly amidst the holiday season and with many residents working and learning from home, we are seeing more people – especially children – out around town. Vehicle and roadway safety must be on everyone’s minds when doing so – that means keeping off phones when behind the wheel. It is about personal responsibility and weighing the value of human life. This very topic was discussed at Livingston’s most recent Township Council meeting.
According to a study released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the use of electronic devices was the number one distraction among teenaged drivers. We fear that it may soon be the number one cause of distracted driving among adults, as well. While distracted driving used to be characterized by using one’s rear view mirror to apply make-up or eating a full meal in the car, it is now defined in a whole new manner.
Distracted driving includes all situations in which drivers take their eyes off the road, take their hands off the wheel and/or take their minds off driving.
While it is difficult to measure when one’s mind is not in the moment, it is easy to see when someone is not physically present at the wheel. At this point in time, all of us have likely had the experience of pulling up next to a vehicle, only to see someone staring intently into his or her lap. The most frightening experience is witnessing drivers holding up their phones at eye level while their vehicles are actually in motion. The phones are often held to the side, of course, so as not to completely block the drivers’ line of sight. Maybe this offers a false sense of security to the offenders.
It’s one thing to talk to passengers, have a conversation on Bluetooth, or have a quick snack while driving (although all fall under the category of “distracted driving”), but sending or receiving texts or email is unacceptable and, frankly, appalling. We wonder what those who text/e-mail while driving would think if they came upon a driver who was perusing the newspaper or writing up a shopping list while cruising down the highway at 65 miles per hour.
What it really comes down to is how much we value life, both our own and others’, and what is actually important in a lifetime. What we have to internalize is that immediate non-emergency communication, social media posts and a need to feel constantly “connected” are not important in the grand scheme of things. Our lives, and the lives of our children, are.
It is important to note that the amount of time it takes to brake is affected by the driver’s level of distraction or impairment. Some studies have compared distracted driving with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In all cases, reaction time is slowed significantly.
New Jersey law bans the use of a handheld cellular phone while driving, and those who talk or text on a handheld cell phone while driving face a fine. Despite new laws to crack down on this dangerous habit, however, distracted driving continues to be a major concern.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death of teenagers in the United States. Instructing small children about roadway safety should always include how to cross a street, how to judge if there is adequate time to cross, and to never cross from between two parked cars. Teach children that when there is no sidewalk and it is necessary to walk on the roadway, they should walk on the far left side of the street facing traffic, and use cross walks and designated school crossings whenever possible. And though those leaf piles in the street may look tempting to play in through a child’s eyes, we must caution them not to do so.
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, because no email or text message will ever be as valuable as a human life. As we continue on through this strange and unique holiday season, we should all be doing everything we can to stay safe. As we know by now, that means wearing masks and social distancing, but it also means being careful when navigating the roadways, by foot or by vehicle.
