Through time we have determined that laws are needed to encourage proper behavior for those of us who either cannot or will not conform to acceptable rules. Take the "open container" law for instance. Common sense tells us that an open container is evidence of one's intent to drink and drive. That's logical. The ultimate goal is to reduce impaired operation of vehicles on the roads we share.
I believe cellphones should be required to be off when we operate our vehicles, thus reducing unneeded distractions while navigating our somewhat over-crowded roadways.
The argument that self-control limits our use of these devices does not hold water. To quote Spock, "that's illogical." Logic dictates that if the bottle is open, drinking may and probably does occur. Why not accept the fact that if a phone is on, usage of it may and probably does occur. Both are forms of gratification.
One very large difference between cellphone usage while driving and the open bottle anology is that the open bottle does not emit an audible and intrusive sound or vibration saying "drink me."
The phone says "answer me." I could be important. Talk to me. Now! We can control our outgoing calls when driving but have no control over the incoming ones unless the bloody thing is off.
Here's a question for the Delaware State Police who have been issuing tickets for driving and cellphone use along Route One lately. What percentage of the tickets have been for outgoing calls versus incoming ones? I suspect most are issued due to the answering of incoming calls and therefore contend that technology is at least partly complicit in our breaking of the law. We are victims of our human nature, and others are cashing in on that fact, at our expense. May I suggest placing your phone with your bottle in the trunk or just turn off the thing. Out of sight, out of mind.
Now I can drive undistracted. Call it my good deed of the day. It just might save your life. Your turn.
Robin Reifsnyder
formerly of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach
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