Driver Beware!

This morning I read some statistics that are interesting - and highly relevant - but not surprising. Texting while driving dramatically increases the likelihood of getting into an accident.  Through the use of continual video surveillance over six million miles, The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that "when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting."  They also found that "dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about 6 times in cars and trucks."

What is the average length of time that drivers take their eyes off the road while looking at their devices?  About five seconds.  That's pretty scary, when you consider that in five seconds a vehicle going 55 mph can cover more than a length of a football field!  

We have three drivers in our family and a fourth one waiting in the wings.  Given that Massachusetts has not yet outlawed the use of hand-held devices while driving (except in Brookline) provided that at least one hand is on the steering wheel, statistics such as this make me nervous.  My wife has already been on the receiving end of an accident caused by a driver who got distracted while using her cell phone.  We must exercise extreme caution while driving - not just so that we're not distracted but also because we know that other drivers will be!

To show you how dangerous talking on a cell phone can be, I know of one driver who, while talking on his Blackberry, was driving less than 10 miles per hour with no other vehicles in sight.  Yet he still got into an accident.  How?  He got hit with my golf ball!  The man was my uncle!  He was on the receiving end of a beautiful five-wood I hit right down the fairway.  Of all the places my ball could have gone, it landed in a 1.5" by 3" area about four feet off the ground 200 yards in front of me.  It hit my uncle's phone, which he happened to be using at the time!  Thankfully he was okay.  I wish I could say the same for his brand new Blackberry.

All that to say that from a human standpoint we need to be alert and discerning drivers.  Yet ultimately, from a theological standpoint, we know that God is in control.  He superintends all that happens on earth, including the path of every car ... and golf ball!  So we exercise prudence while trusting in His providence.

Golf, anyone?