It is about time to bring back common sense
REMEMBER when everyone was super aware when they pulled up to the traffic lights? We were bombarded with warnings to be vigilant in case criminals jumped over the armco, emerged from the bushes or blocked you off in another car.
Looking around in the traffic it would appear that everyone thinks that crime has dropped. I say this because everyone seems completely blasé to any of the potential risks. Before they even stop at the lights or a junction, the cellphone comes up from the lap or out of the cupholder and drivers are eagerly checking goodness knows what.
The recently released crime statistics paint a different story of course. Vehicle hijackings are up, particularly in Gauteng, which would lead one to think that criminals are taking advantage of the fact that motorists are actually paying less attention. There is, of course, the simple fact that handheld cellphone usage while in control of a vehicle is illegal.
Second, it completely distracts you from that simple matter of awareness. Look at people in the traffic around you and you will see it could be game time for criminals at the moment. It appears that everyone has abandoned all their vigilant behaviour and decided that social media is way more important than their own safety.
The team regularly arrive in the newsroom ranting about how they have seen yet another motorist driving in traffic while talking on their cellphone or texting. Again, you want to know one of the reasons why our road accident statistics are so high? Just look at motorists in the traffic and see if their eyes are on the road or glancing into their laps. It does not take a rocket scientist to realise that in the time it takes a motorist to glance up and realise that the traffic has stopped or a child is running across the road, it will be too late.
The same is true while a car is standing at the traffic lights. If you are looking at your cellphone then the criminal that has marked you out has plenty of time to saunter up to your car and take advantage of the fact that you are distracted.
It is all common sense, really. But sadly many people’s relationship with their smartphones means that common sense is not as common as it used to be.
Mark Smyth