What’s it going to take already?
How many people have to be killed or injured?
How much damage has to be done — to lives, families, vehicles?
This week the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission encouraged all Pennsylvania motorists to take responsibility for safety on our roadways and help “Put the Brakes on Fatalities.”
Please.
• In 2019, traffic fatalities dropped to 1,059, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1928.
• In 2020, even with less roadway traffic, fatalities increased to 1,129.
• In 2021, and in line with trends seen across the nation, traffic fatalities increased again, jumping by about 9% to 1,230.
“Pennsylvania is not alone in seeing an increase in roadway deaths, but that doesn’t make it OK,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “In fact, everyone should find it unacceptable. Many traffic fatalities are completely preventable. We must work together — safety is everyone’s responsibility. We urge all drivers to follow these simple safety steps today and always: pay attention when you are behind the wheel, never drive impaired, slow down, and buckle up.”
That says it all.
“Troopers are trained to spot dangerous driving behaviors and take a zero-tolerance approach, but we need the public’s help to put the brakes on fatalities,” said Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Robert Evanchick. “If you believe you’re sharing the road with an aggressive, distracted, or impaired driver, do not hesitate to call 911.”
“Driving over the posted speed limit or too fast for conditions is among the leading causes of roadway incidents that become fatalities,” explained PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Since the pandemic, distracted driving is also a factor in many such fatalities. As drivers, we must take ownership of unsafe driving habits by paying attention and slowing down behind the wheel. It’s up to us to turn the tide.”
“Early crash data estimates are showing 2022 traffic fatalities may be down slightly over 2021,” said Gramian. “While this is encouraging news, these numbers are still too high. Even one fatality is one too many.”
Please listen to what they all are saying.
Please.
Drivers are urged to always pay attention when behind the wheel. Research has shown that distraction from cellphone use while driving — either hand-held or hands-free — delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent.
Anything that causes a motorist to take their attention away from driving, take their eyes off of the road or take their hands off of the wheel is a distraction, including:
• Eating, drinking, and smoking.
• Changing the radio station.
• Talking on the phone, texting, or emailing.
• Reading or writing.
• Doing your hair or make up.
• Dozing/staring off at something along the side of the road.
Whenever I write about this issue, I always think about my dear friend Eileen Woelkers Miller, who has fought long and hard for the passage of HB37 — The Enhanced Driver Responsibility Legislation for Safety on our Roads Act.
Miller’s son, Paul, was killed by a distracted driver in July 2010. Eileen has dedicated her life to speaking to high school kids, legislators and anyone else who will listen about the evils of distracted driving.
I’ve seen her in action and I have heard her impassioned speech. She has managed to take her personal tragedy and use it to educate and convince students and adults about distracted driving and I know she has gotten though to many in her audiences.
Yet the problem of distracted driving continues.
Eileen says life is all about choices.
“What will your choice be?” she asks everyone. “Be safe and arrive alive.”
Really, what will it take? When will we all realize that we don’t ever want to go through what Eileen and her husband, Paul, have gone through. We never want to feel that pain. We never ant to lose a loved one. We never want to be the one that a distracted driver claims next.
Read the statistics again and again. Don’t ever think that this won;t ever happen to you or someone dear to you.
Don’t drive distracted.
Please.