'Hands-free' legislation would be a good start

The Minnesota Legislature is considering a bill that would turn the state into a “hands-free” driving state. That means that drivers would no longer be allowed to hold their phones while driving. They would have to rely on bluetooth devices or earbuds if they wish to speak on the phone.

New Prague High School teacher Greg Tikalsky was among those who testified before a legislative committee in favor of the bill Tuesday. Tikalsky became active in lobbying for the legislation after his father Joe was killed in 2015 when he was hit by a car whose driver was texting.

Another New Prague resident, Karin Ilg, was also at Tuesday’s hearing. Her husband, Phil, was killed last year when a teenage driver struck him while he was driving his bicycle west of Belle Plaine. The driver pleaded guilty last month to gross misdemeanor negligent driving, admitting she was using her cell phone at the time of the crash.

“Hands-free” legislation, while a good start, will not be successful in stopping the increasingly common problem that has been responsible for a growing number of crashes and deaths. The key toward eliminating the problem is education and a change in attitude. A phone call or text message is rarely urgent enough that it requires immediate attention. Until people - not just teens, but people of all ages - accept this fact, the problem will continue.

If you’re driving, concentrate on the task at hand. It is by far the most important thing you are doing at that time. Your life, the lives of your passengers, and the lives of those who are sharing the road with you - whether in a vehicle, on a bicycle or just walking along the roadway - depends on you.