Cellphones can kill
It’s amazing how many drivers I see daily talking or texting on their cellphone. My wife and I go walking in the afternoon on the side of the road, and we see this happening way too much. Not only is it against the law, but it is downright dangerous. I am afraid of the day when I hear of a friend or relative who has been involved in an accident, either as the victim or the driver using their phone.
It’s easy to see the ones talking on their phones because they don’t hide it and will only put it down if they see a police officer driving by. A driver texting is a little more discreet. You can see their heads constantly looking down toward their lap without seeing either hand on the steering wheel. I actually saw someone texting with two hands resting on the top of the wheel.
Just the other day … a Massachusetts teen was sentenced to prison for texting while driving. He crossed the centerline and caused an accident, killing a father of three and seriously injuring the children’s mother. In addition, his license was revoked for 15 years.
About a month ago, there was an article about a college girl who was driving home and texting to one of her friends that what she was doing was dangerous. That was her last text. She died while sending it.
You can search the Internet and see how many teenagers have been killed or caused someone else’s death by texting and driving. Some of their parents are now on crusades to warn people about using their phones while driving. I don’t want to wait for that to happen and want to warn people how dangerous it really is.
It’s so easy to just pull over on the side of the road. Stop to take that call, or just wait until you get to your destination.
So, the next time you hear your phone ring or think you need to talk or text someone right now, please ask yourself: Is this call worth risking someone’s life?
R.J. Wong
Hilo
By the numbers
As I happened to own a blue Honda Fit, I decided to have some fun and run my own numbers after reading the June 7 article “118 mpg” (Tribune-Herald).
Quick summary: Savings for a Hilo resident would be $334.29 per year, as compared to the article’s reported $1,107 per year. This is based on our electric rate charge of 43 cents per kilowatt-hour and our gas at $4.58 per gallon.
Since my own gas Honda Fit gets 37 mpg (as compared to the article’s 31 mpg), my actual saving would be $10.83 per year. However, since I average about 6,800 miles per year, rather than the reported average of 13,500 miles, my savings would only be $5.47 per year. I think I’ll continue driving my gas-powered Honda Fit.
I now admire drivers with hybrid and electrical vehicles even more now, for they must truly care about our environment. What other incentive is there for driving their vehicles? I’ll keep doing my part by continuing to recycle as best I can; I just don’t see a hybrid or electric vehicle in my future.
Mike Ben
Hilo
