Distraction is the safety issue in photo

Distraction is the safety issue in photo

The front page photo that ran Feb. 9. It states a Schaumburg man “is forced to walk on Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights Tuesday because of unplowed sidewalks.” But it missed the real story. The man may have been forced to walk in the roadway, but look at him. He is not looking at traffic or where he is going. He’s a distracted pedestrian walking in traffic while concentrating on a handheld device. He is a hazard to himself and to the drivers on Northwest Highway. He is an accident waiting to happen. That is the story.

We’ve all witnessed cars drifting across the lane dividers, multiple “almost accidents,” people blowing through red lights and stop signs — all caused by distracted drivers who are texting or talking on the phone. Your front page photo shows another problem, the distracted pedestrian. The Daily Herald should campaign against that.

Wayne H. Wagner

Arlington Heights