Cell Phones Kill People

Sad When Phones Kill Anglers

Monday April 1st, 2013- 3 anglers where struck on the relief bridge of Eue Gallie Bridge by a driver who was engaged in text messaging. Two of the anglers, Justin Mitchell (25) and Ron Garett Vicarro (24) died at the scene. The survivor, Jeff VanReenan (41) was drug under the car and survived with broken bones, lacerations and 2 degree burns to his face. Jeff was shrimping and did not know the other anglers.

This is not the first time anglers have been hit on this bridge. There is NO protection to anyone standing on this bridge from on coming traffic. This is not the first death.

It escapes me how phones have escalated to such a high priority in our lives. The sound of a ringer notification rises above etiquette and all else. The worst offenders are those who feel the entire world needs to listen to their phone conversation in the aisles of the stores.  They push their wagon when they are listening and halt the wagon so no other person can pass when they are expressing their point.

A cell phone has become a higher priority than a human face. We no longer want to sit down and have a conversation, we prefer to “text”. When we do visit our family and loved ones in person, we are not far from our phone. No conversation or interaction can stop us from wanting to know what we are missing on facebook and twitter. Our phone has become our top priority to solve all our needs and issues from dating to breaking up. Having to kill our ringer volume or putting our phone on vibrate is almost viewed like a time out given to kids who misbehave.

Almost a throw back to smokers who resented they could not longer smoke in restaurants or buildings. The phone addict tends to have entitlement issues and refuses to kill the ringers in a “NO CELL PHONE” zone. Buildings can hardly convince the phone user their phone will interfere with the airplanes navigation controls. So short of flying a plane, the phone user will not kill the phone based on a “Please Turn Off….” signage and rather take a hit in the etiquette department.

The right to use, the right lose should have more law governing. In this time of economic recovery, let me save the State a Florida a lot of money deciding on what is proper and fair.

BAN TEXT messaging and use of cell phones in Public buildings and automobiles.

30 years later, Florida still battles the regulation of certain drugs. Cell phones are far more dangerous when mixed with driving than vodka will ever be mixed with orange juice.