abbeyrhode's Blog

Every time I go out, I see people walking, and every single one of them is talking on a phone, texting, or plugged into an iPod. They are are oblivious to the world around them. The trouble is that half the drivers out there are also talking on cell phones, texting, or some other distracting activity, and they are equally oblivious. I have witnessed drivers going the wrong way on a one-way street, driving on the wrong side of the road, and ignoring stop signs and traffic lights, among other things. The laws against it are not helping, and it is a very dangerous situation.

I'll tell you exactly how dangerous it is. My father was a school crossing guard. In January of this year, while he was on duty, wearing a Day-Glo vest, holding up a stop sign, he was helping someone cross in a well-marked crosswalk on a bright, clear day. My dear loving Dad was run down and killed by a criminally careless driver. It is horrible for me to imagine his last moments, seeing that van coming at him, shocked that the driver was not stopping.

That is why when I see someone recklessly assuming that a person driving a vehicle is aware of their surroundings, or even cares if they run someone over, I want to yell at them "Hey, pay attention! DO NOT bet your life on a driver seeng you!"


EDIT:  In case people don't read comments, I want to include two additional problems that I had not thought of.

My good friend Imabear pointed out that when people block out all sound, they are also leaving themselves open to attack. Nobody wants to think it can happen to them, but the frightening truth is, it happens every day. People are mugged, raped, and even murdered, and it doesn't only happen in "bad" cities. It's always a good idea to be aware of one's surroundings, including who is there.

And my dear friend FlowersAndButterflies, who inspired me to write this, mentioned that it is especially dangerous for those with a disability, who may not be able to see or hear approaching danger. Walking or driving, we should not take it for granted that the other person realizes we are there and will just get out of the way. I like to think that most people would not want to be responsible for taking the life of another, and it's really not that much trouble to  be sensitive to those around us, and just be careful.