Drivers
warned to steer clear of distractions
By Kirk
Noonan (6/27/04)
Recently,
on Interstate 80 in Northern California, a car swerved
in and out of its lane. Shon Remington, a California
Highway Patrol officer, pulled the car over thinking
the driver was intoxicated. But after talking to the
driver, Remington determined it was the half-eaten
hamburger in the driver’s hand that caused the
erratic driving.
“Driving
while distracted is dangerous,” says Remington,
37, who attends Sunset Christian Center, an Assemblies
of God church in Rocklin, Calif. “Accidents
can happen in a split second.”
Last year,
distracted, sleepy, reckless and drunken drivers helped
push fatalities on the nation’s highways to
more than 43,000. Driver distractions and inattentive
driving play a part in one out of four motor vehicle
crashes, experts believe.
Many people
assume that talking on a cell phone is the most common
distraction, but there are several other equally dangerous
distractions, including tuning the radio, choosing
a compact disc, looking in a vanity mirror, reaching
for something on the floor, taking in the scenery,
talking to other passengers, eating, drinking, writing
and reading.
“Even
if a distracted driver is not injured in an accident
he might injure or kill others,” Remington says.
“If that happens the driver is going to have
to deal with that guilt along with any financial or
legal issues he might face.”
Taking
simple precautions could save lives. Experts recommend
that drivers do the following:
