Cell phones, unsafe drivers annoy resident

There are two public safety concerns that have been eating at me for a while now. I speak of the infamous hand-held cell phone ban and our old friend, the traffic light.

I am certainly not making any startling announcement when I say that the hand-held cell phone ban is ignored by thousands of New Jersey drivers every day. When the law first passed, elected officials wagged their fingers at us and - at least when a patrol car was visible - most people made a conscious effort to disguise the violation. Today, people don't care because they don't get pulled over for it. And in an attempt to make a polite note to officers on patrol, most of us can tell the difference between a shoulder microphone and a cell phone.

When it comes to traffic lights, red is apparently the new yellow (hurry up! You can make it! After all, it just turned red). I reflect on an old joke about a man that always ran red lights because his brother did it, but always stopped at green lights because his brother might be coming the other way. Sadly, this is not too far from reality at intersections in our area. When did stopping for a red light become optional? And, for a second friendly reminder to law enforcement, if your lights aren't on, we are not expecting you coming at us through the intersection any more than any other vehicle.

We find ourselves in a situation where drivers in central New Jersey need to seriously look both ways before proceeding through a green light. Most of us have had the unpleasant experience of dodging a bus-size vehicle traveling through a red light at double the speed limit while the driver participates in an important conversation. Indeed, law enforcement faces an ever increasing level of idiocy on the part of the general public. I believe that the police officers in our area are among the best anywhere, but they need to be a more impressive influence on the road both through enforcement and by example.

So, what is the answer? The reality of it is that most people won't change these habits until it costs them something - be it a ticket, fine, or a bad accident. Are intersection cameras the solution? Although I despise the idea of "big brother" watching our every move, maybe some situations warrant being watched. No one, including myself, is completely innocent. I am asking for change because I am genuinely concerned.

Now, who wants to talk about potholes?

Bill Cole

Matawan