Dear editor:
Question: What is the difference between a car accident involving a driver using a cellphone or texting while driving and one who is an alert driver?
Answer: There are skid marks leading up to the driver using his devices.
No matter how many TV ads warning drivers of the dangers of texting or using their cellphones, there are still many who believe it can't happen to them. How many of us safe drivers have narrowly missed smashing into young and older drivers who are seemingly in "The Twilight Zone" and have no care that they are endangering other drivers? By the grace of God, I've been glad many times to have been alert and taken quick action to slam on my brakes.
I am also wondering, when many people took their driver's test to get their license, did not the testing instructors tell their students to always operate the turn signal lever when making a turn long before they came to the direction they wanted to go? The only thing I can figure out is either car manufacturers didn't install turn signal levers in some cars, or some drivers never learned to use them, or that the drivers just don't have the strength to lift their arms to operate that difficult movement.
When I was growing up, my Dad owned several grocery stores in town and my brother and I used to ride in one of his delivery trucks. The truck, a 1934 Ford, was not equipped with a turn signal, so the driver used hand signals: left arm out the window, bent up at the elbow, signaling that he was turning right; arm straight out meant he was turning left; and arm bent down to indicate he was slowing down. My brother asked the driver why he put his hand out the window, and he said, "To show people my hand is clean." Maybe, at least, if drivers wanted people to know about their clean hand we might have fewer car accidents.
I have a prayer for all of our drivers that I saw on a friend's dashboard in Texas that might be of some help for those drivers who are distracted during their times on the road:
"Dear Lord, help me as I drive today to love my fellow drivers as I do myself.
Be with me so that I may do nothing to hurt or endanger any of Your children.
Give my eyes clear vision and skill to my feet and hands as I drive.
Make me alert in mind and relaxed in body.
Deliver me from the spirit of rivalry, all resentment at the actions of others, and the desire to send text messages to my friends while I complete my journey. In Your Name, amen."
My favorite humorist, Will Rogers, made many wise statements during his life, mostly about political leaders. But one of his sayings might apply to all drivers in our day and age: "God gave everyone two ends; one to think with and one to sit on. Heads you win, tails you lose."
Donald Cunningham
Hot Springs
Editorial on 06/26/2016