Licking County Sheriff Nearly Crashes Using Laptop While Driving
A Licking County Sheriff almost made the news yesterday using his laptop while driving. He was in one of the Sheriff department’s luxurious SUV’s checking license plates while driving through Granville, Ohio. His attention to his laptop screen brought him to a screeching halt just inches from the bumper of the Mercedes in front of him.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I hate cell phone use while driving. This stunt is more dangerous than drunk driving and it’s widely excepted. Now, even our law enforcement cannot keep their eyes off of their laptop while they drive! A laptop for crying out loud! I am waiting to hear the comment that I hear about cell phones, “I can handle it fine, you just can’t multi-task.”
There’s no argument I’ve ever heard that has proven to me that use of electronic personal devices is not dangerous. I do not care about statistics. In this case the cliche’ “There’s lies, damn lies, and statistics”, holds true. How many people that cause an accident are going to state that they did it because they were on the cell phone? Who is going to be dumb enough to open themselves up for no defense like that? Where is the proof going to be that they were on the cell phone? Police are not going to check their usage times against the accident time. This would only occur once an accident has went to trial.
The argument for this deputy is going to be that he was catching criminals with the computer and that I should be thankful for his service to us. He didn’t go after any criminals after this check, and if he did, he would have had to do it most likely with a mess in his drawers. Of course, I’m not against Deputies catching bad guys, I’m against them crashing into people while looking for them. I’m for not having to pay disability to an officer after he injures himself doing such nonsense.
Think I’m overstating the problem? Here’s a link to an accident with an officer in Jacksonville, Florida where it was a big problem. This officer hit a gasoline tanker!
I encourage everyone to get off of the phones, computers, mp3 players, and whatever other gadget while driving. Nothing is going to occur on these devices that is more important than safe driving. Your phone has voice mail, use it. It’s not bad manners to drive instead of talk.
