What exactly don’t you understand? Seriously, this has been going for literally years and nothing – and I mean nothing – has gotten any better. Over and over again we learn our lesson the hard way, only to revert back to the same stupid, thoughtless, reckless behavior we have made ourselves so accustomed to.
What am I talking about? I’m talking about the crisis of distracted driving – talking on phones, spacing out, etc. And, with all due respect to the fellow who wrote in about how not everything is a crisis, I’ve got news for you: this is indeed a C.R.I.S.I.S.
Just look around Lakewood. Every single day there are accidents, that when TLS posted the videos of them, I become utterly confounded. For instance, there have been numerous videos I’ve seen on TLS Instagram and WhatsApp Status showing people literally driving directly into oncoming traffic, turning straight into vehicles, and doing all other sorts of unbelievably stupid driving maneuvers.
And there is only explanation for how this could be happening and happening so often. Nobody is paying attention. We’re just too busy to look outside our windshield, too caught up with whatever is going on in life to pay attention to what’s happening outside of our vehicles, too self-absorbed to be concerned that we might kill someone with our reckless actions.
In fact, a poll taken by TLS found that nearly 40% of people admit to texting while driving. 40%! Is that not a crisis? Have we gone completely berserk? Do we not know that motor vehicles are deadly?
It has got to stop. It has got to end. We’ve had enough tragedies and we’ve had more than our fair share of close calls. What exactly are you waiting for? What will it take to get it through your dense head that a car is a deadly vehicle?
For goodness’ sake, get off your phone and drive!
My seven year old grandson got off the bus in Westgate and the bus driver put out the stop sign and the red flashing lights were on and a car just kept going and almost hit him. Does anyone realize that if they kill someone their lives will not be worth living afterwards. They won’t have a moments peace. Put down your phones, pay attention to what’s going on around you! Save a life, it may be your own!
Correction: if חס ושלום he would have hit your son, YOUR life wouldn’t be worth living afterwards, the driver will get over it after 1 month
… I don’t believe that what goes on elsewhere is the issue at hand. If the crisis is present, it should be taken care of “by our town, for our town.”
… Also, I think the opposite of focused driving is distracted driving, so whatever you want to call it – let’s get accustomed to “spacing in.”
Well said.
They turn their vehicles into deadly weapons;
I’ve asked this before – Is Lakewood the only town in NJ that has this CRISIS? Yes, a town that has at least one traffic accident a day is in CRISIS. Can the blame be laid on distracted driving? Surely, other towns have distracted drivers. Could there be other mitigating causes?
In 2 words, Well Said.
This is indeed a big issue. I personally am very against the idea and I can proudly say I never use my phone at all while driving. Not even Bluetooth. I just know that if God forbid something happened I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing I wasn’t responsible with someone elses life.
Why it is a crisis on top of the obvious danger is that it should be completely superfluous to have to even mention such a thing to the Ohr L’goyim. We should know better without the law telling us. As well as beeping at night when kids are sleeping or in the early morning.
We aren’t equal, more is expected of us. We are supposed to set an example. maybe it isn’t fair that more is expected of us, but we get to be the Am Hanivchar. So it’s a trade off.
I love you all whether you text and drive or not. Just please stop. For your own families sake.
Can we get statistics?? I wonder if all of these crises are really new issues or simply increased awareness due to social media and magazines?? If TLS wasn’t publishing all of these accidents would anyone even know any them? Is it true that Lakewood has a statistically significant larger amount of accidents compared to another town with the same size and density? (Same questions for so many things that get people excited today – shidduchim, bochurim, agunos etc. These were always difficulties that communities faced but they become “crisis” when the floodlight of social media gets focused on them)
Seriously? Is this some sort of joke? You need statistics to recon whether the issue is worth addressing? And what difference does it make how we find out? Don’t try to dodge the issue. Let’s get real.
The issue is definitely bad drivers but the bigger problem is that our township doesn’t enforce traffic rules and that is why at least twice a week you’ll see the state police in town. People got used to the fact that they won’t pay for their stupidity and that’s why every day there are minimum 5 accidents!
If the local police officers would ticket texting drivers, stop sign runners, and flashing lights school-bus ignorers mercilessly, this dangerous behavior would come to a halt.
And they should!
Ever since TLS put up that crisis letter, I haven’t been able to take anything said here seriously.
What a complete lapse of judgement.
Regarding this letter, good point… I use my phone too much, especially by red lights and stuff but I still believe LPD should make a massive crackdown.
Literally this is literally an important article. I literally can’t believe there are literally people that literally don’t pay attention when driving.
You could have not said any better.
I am embarrassed to say, but I got in to a few accidents, and yes, they were my fault, why because I was looking at my phone.
Since then I stop using my phone when I drive.
I learned the hard way.
BH I did not hurt anyone else.
I’m begging my kids to close the phone when they are driving, but leman hashem they will miss an important phone call. Or taxing, they tell me, other’s are not careful I AM and I say, are you waiting for a disaster?? What are we to do? I WORRY EVERY DAY…..
Stop irresponsible building crowded building no parking or driving space.
Timely message. I see people on their phones, talking and texting ALL THE TIME. It is very upsetting to see obviously frum, Torah-observant Jews showing such little regard for the lives of others and their own lives.
If someone CV dies and you are a Frum Jew put on trial, you will likely get a MINIMUM of 20 years in Jail and you might be with violent criminals in your cell!!!!!!
Think before you use your phone
If you want to kill someone and get away with it use your car
While I agree that there is definitely an issue, it is a global issue. You are a fool if you think it’s a “Lakewood” issue… every single town in every single state has multiple accidents a day. It’s the fact that there are millions of cars in the road… do some math on the amount of cars on the road daily and the amount of accidents you would be amazed how there are not more accidents..
If you text while driving you have a din of a rodef and a murderer.
You are driving a 4-5,000 lb vehicle and not paying attention.
Even talking on a blue-tooth diminishes your attention by almost 60%.
Have rochmonus on yourself, your family, and your community.
STOP IT.
Also, if you’re reading from a siddur while driving, you are not religious, instead, you’re a big sketch.
This is not just a texting issue!! In general people are very focused on one thing when they are driving, namely where they have to go and the quickest way they can get there. Even if that means running a red light or illegally cutting around someone at an intersection. That is the biggest crisis as this causes many accidents as well as near misses. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! START DRIVING WITH SEICHAL!!!!!!
As a frequent visitor to Lakewood from across the country, I can clearly support the accusation that Lakewood drivers are scary!! I believe it’s not only texting, but a real issue of Middos. Middos dictates that we be aware of others around us and that our actions and behaviors are focused on the needs of others, not just self-focused. So much of the bad and dangerous driving I have witnessed in Lakewood is based on people doing what they want/need to do, when they need to do it. This includes illegal lane changes, left turns inches in front of oncoming traffic, running red lights and more. A city like Lakewood, immersed in so much Torah, should behave in a way that reflects the real lessons of Torah – focus on Bein Adam L’Chavero!!
Guaranteed Solution……….New law-your caught talking or texting while driving, $5000 fine….(If it would be up to me, I would have them spend the night in city jail…after all you are a potential killer…..) It’s a shame we live in an era where real solutions are not even considered at the time that most of the focus is on “correctness”, “rights” and “which minority group would be most affected”….
Ever since the cellphones came out and people all over their always on their cellphones when driving what’s more important keeping you eyes on the road or yapping on your cellphone? Here’s another thing things hanging on your mirror that’s another distracting thing