■ 23 February 2008 | 7:04 AM
Pls dnt txt & drv
RE 'SHUT UP AND DRIVE' (letter, Feb. 15) by Don Vtipil:
Thank you, Mr. Vtipil, for your advice on what to do about the epidemic we are facing on our roadways. Driving while talking and driving while texting are becoming even more of a problem than driving under the influence.
Speaking of DUIs, here's an idea. Let us get all of those MADD mothers who are responsible for getting the drunks off the road to start a new campaign to make our roads safer.
How about getting our legislators behind this problem? And the governor? He tried it with that silly reckless driving thing last year.
No, that won't work. It takes money to be elected to office and losing the charitable contributions from the cell phone companies would really hurt.
Nice try, Mr. Vtipil. If you think it was bad in your car, think about me. I ride a motorcycle.
Folks, please hang up and drive. My family needs me.
Larry Segeleon
Virginia Beach
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Motorcycles
I have a motorcycle too, along with 2 cars and a truck. It's your life, your choice. Make sure you take the motorcycle riders training course. Keep the phone number of J. Thomas McGrath, P.C., handy for your next of kin. I agree, motorcycles are fun and easy on gas, just not as safe on the road as that big truck of mine.
re. Distracted Driving
charlesm, Take the bus? What planet are you living on? I went to HRT’s web site to plan the 8-mile route to work as you suggested and here are the results: 8 miles in 2 ½ hour, which included 33 minutes of walking to different bus stops. I ride a motorcycle because I like it and it only costs me 8 to 10 dollars a week to fill up my gas tank. I have a truck and a car but they do not get near the mileage as my bike. When was the last time you got 55 miles per gallon? On the other hand, are you one of the people that just sit and complain about the high price of gas? Although I am happy to know, you will not be hyperventilating when some cell phone user runs into you. Just tell yourself, it is just one of those things that happen out there on the road.
Distracted Driving
Riding a motorcycle in this area increases your chances of injury and death. Like cell phone users, some can do it without a problem, others can't. Maybe you should consider a car. Since just about every driver out there on the road has a cell phone and at one time or another, for one reason or another, uses it while driving. That's why you see it happening so often. As every driver on the road knows there are many distractions that cause eratic driving. If you're going to hyperventilate over the way people drive, you need to get off the bike and on the bus. Now that's a safe ride and you can avoid all the trials and tribulations of being on the road with these unsafe drivers. And you can text message, talk on the phone, eat, talk with others on the bus, read the newspaper, gawk all you want, sleep and maybe your blood pressure will go down. Just think of the possibilities.
Enforce current law
Why does no one make a push for the enforcement of current laws and instead push for MORE laws? Laws against distracted and/or inattentive driving are already on the books.
As to Northam not responding, maybe if you include smoking while driving along with talking or texting he will respond.........
WE DON'T NEED MORE LAWS JUST ENFORCEMENT OF THE CURRENT ONES.
The legislators are dragging their feet.
I have contacted my delegate, Paula Miller, and my senator, Ralph Northam, via e-mail on this issue, begging them to sponsor legislation. Ralph Northam never bothered to respond. Paula Miller's staff responded with a bunch of obfuscation about previous attempts being killed in committees and sub-committees. One of the other unspoken "obstacles" to banning cell phone usage in moving vehicles is the fact that the legislators themselves and their staff members are on their cell phones almost constantly while driving to and from Richmond. They do not want to suffer the embarrassment of being among those ticketed. Perhaps they prefer to be among those killed or injured in an accident caused by their inattention. I urge all citizens to keep the heat on your state representatives to DO SOMETHING other than just ticket teenagers and texters. Maybe they'll eventually "get it" and stop pretending it isn't a serious safety issue they need to address.