Today Begins the First Step

Today, October 1, my home state of Maryland finally begins moving in the right direction by having a law take effect that prohibits talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving.  You'd think this is a no-brainer, and the law would have passed long ago.

The new law is weak and requires much work.  For example, unlike in California, a cop can't stop someone just for yakking on a cell phone.  He/she has to see the driver commit another infraction and stop them for that before a citation for a meager $40 is given for the yakking infraction.  Further, the penalty is way too low. 

Texting while driving has been against the law in my home state for over a year, yet I haven't seen it enforced nor make any difference.  I see people texting while driving all the time.  Scary!  Us motorcyclists have enough to worry about ignorant drivers who don't see us anyway than to worry about their distractions causing them not to see us.

What is it that talking on a phone all the time is so critical?  I promise you, the world will NOT end if you let a call go to voice mail, or if you have to take a few minutes to pull over to a parking lot to place a call that is important to you at the time.

I am remembering my friend who died while out riding his motorcycle and was creamed by a cell-phone-yakking yuppie.  His children and all of his friends and family still miss him very much.  

Life is short:  hang up and drive!