Live-N-Learn
-OR-
Learn-N-Live
"Hang Up and Drive!!!!"
I guess you could see this one coming huh? Cell phones, they make our life so much easier to stay in touch with our friends and loved ones. I have a cell phone. But by riding a motorcycle I have a different outlook on them and the crazy things people do when they're on them.
About 2 years ago while riding on surface streets I had a girl hit my motorcycle while she was on the cell phone. She never even looked over before she swerved into the turn lane which I was already in. Bang!!!! Down I went. And she STILL didn't get off the phone! She got out and was telling the person on the other end, "oh my God, oh my God, I just hit a motorcycle!!!" Then the other person must have asked her if I was OK because then she stumbles and looks over at me and asks if I was alright! At that point I had taken off my helmet and was mustering up my best "WTF" annoyed look while telling her to get off the Goddamn phone!
She said she never saw me......DUH!!! When you can't check your side views or look over because the phone is plastered to the side of your head guess what? You're not going to be able to see what's beside you!
Look, I'm no saint I've used my cell phone while driving BUT..... I've adopted a plan that has worked really well for me. Wanna hear it? TOUGH you're going to! The ONLY times I will use my cell phone in the car is if I'm not sure where I'm going as I go to a LOT of photo shoots and sometimes I get lost. But my rule on that is simply if I'm on the freeway and I can stay in one lane I will talk, however if I'm on surface streets I will pull over. It just plain scares the hell out of me when I'm sitting at a light here in Los Angeles and all the people I see yaking away to God knows who not EVEN paying attention to what they're doing. The light turns green and they sit there like concrete. AHHHHH I could go on but I will spare you the agony!
If someone calls and it can wait, fine, I'll deal with it when I get to my next destination. Driving while you're on the phone DEFINITELY takes away from your attention span and lets face it, a lot of people don't have a lot to begin with! If there's one thing I learned on a motorcycle is DON'T assume the person next to you is paying attention or able to see you. Always assume they're going to do something stupid if they're on the phone (or off!!!) and plan accordingly!
If you have any questions on this little article please feel free to call me, just not on your cell phone!!!