Despite Alabama having a law on the books banning texting while driving, some motorcycle riders believe the problem continues to get worse, which poses increasing dangers for them.
Joy Tyler, a motorcycle enthusiast from Piney Chapel, notices distracted drivers each time she hits the road. She's had close calls, but credits a motorcycle safety class with helping keep her safe.
“I've had people pull out in front of me and weave in and out of my lane,” Tyler said. “It's one of the scariest things to pull up next to a car and (the driver) is texting. People may wonder why a bike behind them downshifts and flies by them, but we're not trying to speed; we're trying to get away from the car.”
When asked about particular trouble spots in Limestone County, Tyler said U.S. 72 is “horrible,” particularly during morning rush hour. She simply wants distracted drivers to think about what they're doing and the lives of others on the road.
“My main thing is, look at that person. That person is someone's mother, father, sister or aunt,” she said. “I have four kids, two grandkids and one on the way. (Drivers) should just think about other people.”
Defensive driving
Tyler's concern over sharing the road with distracted drivers comes at an appropriate time. The month of April is recognized by the National Safety Council as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The month is also observed by Distraction.gov, which compiles national statistics on distracted driving.
Distraction.gov's latest stats only go back to 2014, but note an alarming and rising trend of distracted drivers. The agency said 3,179 people were killed, and 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2014. Ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes.
Though Tyler, 41, has been riding a motorcycle nearly “her whole life,” she decided to take a lesson at Rocket Harley-Davidson in Madison-annexed Limestone County. Her instructor, Paul Walker of Hartselle, has been riding motorcycles for 50 years and teaching safety courses for 11 years.
Like Tyler, he is very concerned about motorcycle enthusiasts sharing the road with drivers who simply aren't paying attention.
“It's not uncommon to see men driving with those best electric shavers like you'd see women trying to put on mascara,” Walker said. “I've seen men with a shaver in one hand, trying to eat breakfast with the other hand and driving with their knees.”
He said the most clear and present danger, however, remains cellphones.
“The instant technology is distracting to most all the drivers,” he said. “Everybody knows it's against the law. (Riders) sit a little higher than most cars, so you see people sneaking and texting.”
He said when he sees a driver looking down in what he calls “the praying position,” he eliminates the threat by putting more distance between his bike and that vehicle. He instructs those who take his class to do the same.
Walker would like to see the state's law against texting while driving enforced more stringently, but he knows state troopers are stretched thin in terms of manpower and coverage area.
“It's so rampant, you just get disgusted by it,” he said.
Alabama law
In Alabama, all drivers are banned from sending, receiving or composing texts while driving. The law went into effect on Aug. 1, 2012. Prior to that, only novice drivers were banned from text messaging.
Those who violate the text messaging ban are subject to a $25 fine, and receive 2 demerit points to their driver's licenses. Second-time offenders get a $50 fine, whereas third-time offenders face a $75 fine.
An effort last year to expand the existing law to include reading, writing, grooming or engaging in any other activity that would have distracted a driver was rejected by lawmakers.
An official with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Tuesday distracted driving continues to be an issue on Alabama's roads, though the issue has received more attention since the law went into effect.
Senior Trooper Jonathan Appling said distracted driving is more than just sending a text message, however. He said it can also include adjusting the radio, talking to passengers or just glancing away from the road to look at another vehicle or something off in the distance. He described all as being equally dangerous.
“Distracted driving is a growing concern and is making its way to being one of the leading causes of crashes,” Appling said. “In 2014, more than 8500 crashes were caused by Distracted Driving in Alabama. Motorists need to think about what's important and consider if that few seconds driving distracted is worth the consequences.”
Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said he believes distracted driving is worse now than it's ever been. His department is also seeing an increase in crashes caused by drivers who were texting.
He said his officers are always on the lookout for drivers who are texting behind the wheel, but added it's difficult to catch someone in the act.
“We all realize it's dangerous, but it's still being done,” he said.
source enewscourier.com
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