Dear Christine,
I SAW A LETTER in one of your columns last week about a husband whose wife was so addicted to her cellphone and texting that she would answer the phone even during sex and while at church.
It’s unbelievable to imagine that today’s hi-tech world has people so obsessed with cellphones, they are totally lost without then. I want to share a few incidents and scenarios with you.
A few weeks ago while travelling along a country road, I noticed the driver of a public utility vehicle – one of the big yellow ones – driving and attempting to text. While no accident occurred in this case, could you imagine the number of lives which would have been shattered if that driver had gotten into an accident? This was not the first time I witnessed such a scenario. I also saw a driver of a Transport Board bus reading a text message while driving.
Can there be a law in place for this kind of behaviour? It’s ridiculous, selfish and uncaring. Will the authorities do something about this?
In another case, I was told of a man who was distracted by a cellphone call while driving with his daughter. When he recognised the call was from his wife, he felt obligated to answer it. As he did, he drove through a red light, cutting off the driver who was approaching from the left and had the right of way. To avoid a collision, he swerved to the right, lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree instead. He endangered his life and that of his child.
There are numerous other cases where cellphone usage made people do some silly and more dangerous things – like concentrating so much on the call you’re taking, you walk blindly across the street in front of traffic. I’ve even heard of a case where a woman went grocery shopping, stopped to answer a text, then left the supermarket with her groceries on the check-out counter.
Another dangerous habit is that of young mothers pushing their children in strollers along the streets,while still attempting to send a text or answer a call.
Taking a cellphone to church is ridiculous if it is not placed on silent. I’ve been to funerals and church services where cellphones rang in the middle of sermons and people even attempted to answer them.
It appears that too many cellphone users are completely oblivious to anything but their conversations. In the case of driving, it should be obvious that cellphones and driving don’t go together. Didn’t we survive in the past without cellphones?
As it relates to children taking them to school, I agree. However, I believe the phones should be confiscated during school hours and returned when the school bell rings.
I hold the view that if a child has an emergency on the way to school or after school, he or she should be able to contact his/her parents/guardians. Some cases could be a matter of life and death, so communication between parent and child is vital. That apart, I also have no problem with schoolchildren having a smartphone. This would allow them to perhaps WhatsApp their parents or text them if that also becomes necessary.
Please share your thoughts about all I’ve written.
– Patrick P
Dear Patrick P,
I understand all you’ve said and I agree with you, even in the case of schoolchildren being allowed smartphones. However, that’s just my opinion as it is your opinion also.
I also believe there should be a law preventing texting and speaking on cellphones while driving; unless the individual is using a “hands-free method” of conversing, such as speaking via the use of an earpiece. Even that can sometimes be dangerous if it prevents the individual from taking due care and attention while driving.
One method which works for some women is that they place their cellphones out of arm’s reach, mostly in a separate bag somewhere in the far corner of the rear seat. In that way, it becomes impossible for them to answer a call while driving.
Since there is no law regarding cellphone usage and driving [of which I am aware], individuals should at least pull over to the side of the road, where possible, if they need to make or answer a call. They also need to pay careful attention to the driver behind them and ensure any sudden braking will not result in an accident.
– CHRISTINE