As I drove home to Springfield, Illinois today, I noticed countless drivers texting while driving. One driver, in particular, was swerving ahead of me on I-55 north and driving only about 45 MPH. As I passed him, I saw that he was looking at his phone. I looked back several times after I passed him and saw him continue to swerve in and out of lanes behind me. This was shocking to me given the layer of ice on the roadway and given the amount of traffic around him. I decided it was a good idea to report this man’s driving so that perhaps the authorities would tell him to put away his phone. Ten miles later, I saw a young woman reading a book – while driving. I honked at her, she looked at me, and went back to her book.
This kind of behavior really angers me. Each day, I represent accident victims and their families who have suffered terrible harms and losses as a result of a car crash. To see people purposefully ignore the safety of others in such a manner is criminal – at least it should be. There are fines for speeding – why? because when you speed, you endanger the lives of others. It should be the same for texting – in every state.
New Years day is right around the corner. As that time nears, many Missouri drivers will be making resolutions to lose weight and eat healthier. I challenge everyone to not only look out for your own health but also the health of those around you. For New Years this year, make a resolution to never, ever text while driving. You will make our Missouri roadways much safer in doing so.