No citations.
Are you kidding me? On a campus full of pedestrians and cyclists, there have been zero citations for texting while driving?
Though there may not be a direct correlation between enforcement efforts and tickets, it's obvious that a complete lack of consequences shown for such a dangerous action means that little is being done.
And it's not like people just aren't texting while driving. Whether I'm walking or riding my bike around McKinley or Riverside, I constantly see people texting while cruising down the street.
Remember, right after the law was put into place, when a man from Richmond, Ind., drove his car through a store while he was texting? Imagine if that happened on campus. What would happen if someone drove into Teachers College? What about Kinghorn?
Or what about the Scramble Light? We just had a wreck near there last week that didn't involve texting, as far as we know. But it easily could have.
Texting is distracting, there's no doubt in that. Even pedestrians have trouble texting and walking. I can't even count the amount of times I've been riding my bike along McKinley and someone steps out in front of me because they were sucked into the screen in their hands.
If you really think about it, modern phones are basically small computers. Would we be OK with someone typing on a computer while they were walking or driving? I doubt it.
And don't get me wrong, I text and walk all the time. I'm a fiend for my phone. But I keep my eyes open for my surroundings. I don't get lost in my own actions.
Too many times I have had to avoid someone texting or talking, forcing me to run into a fence or weave in and out of people. It's frustrating, and I'm ready for a change.
So if people can't text and walk, what makes us think they can text and drive? There's clearly a law against it, but why isn't it being enforced?
When the law first went into effect, even I had my doubts. I still have no idea how it could be enforced. But somehow, it needs to happen. I don't doubt that it's a difficult law to enforce, but that's why the police are in charge.
Are we willing to risk someone crashing into a residence hall or academic building, just because a law is too difficult to enforce?
I really hope not. I sincerely hope a law that protects the lives of over 18,000 students is not just being ignored.
It's difficult enough to drive on campus, especially during busy times. Texting just adds another obstacle to the mix. Unless the BMV adds cell phones into the driving test, there can be no way it can be considered safe to text and drive.
When someone can multitask well, they're applauded and told they "can walk and chew gum at the same time." Well texting is not in the same vein. Walking, biking or driving, there is no way texting during these activities will ever be safe, and something needs to be done.
To drivers, stop texting. It's unsafe and selfish. To the University Police Department, make this a priority. We pedestrians and bikers are concerned for our safety.
It has moved beyond public relations campaigns and public service announcements. Our lives are at stake. Don't let that text affect the rest of your life, or ours.
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