I’ve been struggling with something lately. As the topic suggests, where do we draw the line on rules, laws, policy’s that infringe on our freedoms?
I don’t text and drive. Period. I think it’s dangerous and I don’t want to do it. In fact, I get angry when I see people texting and driving, whether I’m on my bike or not. I feel like I’m sharing the road with a dangerous idiot. In the state of Nevada it happens to be against the law, although seldom enforced. So I guess I have the law on my side.
Yesterday on the way home from work, I was in the car pool lane (legal on two wheels here) and came along side what seemed to be a nice looking, well dressed lady driving a very expensive Chevrolet Suburban LTZ. Yes, she was texting, updating her status on FaceBook or some such BS that couldn’t wait until she got home. Could she be that stupid? Or is it something else? Does she refuse to accept a law that controls her actions, in her car? Law be damned, she will not be told what is safe and what is not and only she will decide what risks are worth taking.
When I ride to work, which is normally 4 times a week, I see many people using their phones as they drive. The law is evidently unpopular. Many disobey it. Few are ticketed for doing it. They seem to be comfortable with the consequences of texting and driving.
Should we throw the law out and let people be free from unpopular infringement on their personal lives? Reverse the scary trend of Big Brother taking control of more and more of our daily lives? Or, do we decide to carry laws on the books that keep the politicians and insurance actuarialists feeling good about themselves? I’m afraid either way, people will continue to act irresponsibly while driving and lives will be destroyed.
Collectively, this is a pretty smart group. I quite often read things that change my opinion on things. I’m interested to see what any of you might think.
I don’t text and drive. Period. I think it’s dangerous and I don’t want to do it. In fact, I get angry when I see people texting and driving, whether I’m on my bike or not. I feel like I’m sharing the road with a dangerous idiot. In the state of Nevada it happens to be against the law, although seldom enforced. So I guess I have the law on my side.
Yesterday on the way home from work, I was in the car pool lane (legal on two wheels here) and came along side what seemed to be a nice looking, well dressed lady driving a very expensive Chevrolet Suburban LTZ. Yes, she was texting, updating her status on FaceBook or some such BS that couldn’t wait until she got home. Could she be that stupid? Or is it something else? Does she refuse to accept a law that controls her actions, in her car? Law be damned, she will not be told what is safe and what is not and only she will decide what risks are worth taking.
When I ride to work, which is normally 4 times a week, I see many people using their phones as they drive. The law is evidently unpopular. Many disobey it. Few are ticketed for doing it. They seem to be comfortable with the consequences of texting and driving.
Should we throw the law out and let people be free from unpopular infringement on their personal lives? Reverse the scary trend of Big Brother taking control of more and more of our daily lives? Or, do we decide to carry laws on the books that keep the politicians and insurance actuarialists feeling good about themselves? I’m afraid either way, people will continue to act irresponsibly while driving and lives will be destroyed.
Collectively, this is a pretty smart group. I quite often read things that change my opinion on things. I’m interested to see what any of you might think.