Bend Weekly Community Forums

[bend-anywhere?]

Since the inception of the cellular or portable phone we have become spoiled. We now have more minutes than ever and most users feel compelled to use every minute each month. It appears to my casual observance that the vast majority of the minutes are used in our automobiles. While I know I too have succumbed to the use of the cell phone in the automobile, I do so with great care as to not disturb those around me.
We can make laws to fine cell phone users from using them in automobiles. This will merely annoy people, waste our law enforcement resources and just sell more of those annoying Bluetooth earpieces. I think we must just become wiser while using our cell phone and automobiles. Simple things like backing completely of that parking space before you get on your phone. I do believe this applies to the actual parking and using our many fine drive-thru options. Or not smoking and trying to dial your phone at the same time, this goes for applying makeup, eating food, playing with the radio, reading, and reaching into the glove box to name a few.
I’m sure there are other offensives that you have witnessed while watching the offending cell phone user swerve their automobile all over the road while on the phone. While the majority of drivers feel that they are great drivers and therefore can drive and use the cell phone at the same time, the facts are that you are disturbing those around you. If we all can manage to eliminate just a few disturbances each month, the road will be a much happier and safer place to be. Then the person behind you doesn’t have to worry about the cell phone jerk in front of them.