Say no to chatting while driving

When I read editorials and letters to the editor regarding the dire financial condition of the state, there is almost always a call for reform, change, downsizing of government and less spending.

The question is, who will make the changes and reform?

It certainly won’t be the politicians who are either afraid or refuse to ban the use of handheld cellphones by drivers. We don’t need studies and statistics to tell us that is dangerous.

Why do our elected officials continue to allow it? Is it the influence of cellular phone companies and the campaign contributions they receive? Maybe our elected officials themselves like to use their cellphones as they drive.

Is it reasonable to expect that these same state representatives will suddenly become fiscally conservative and adopt the strong measures necessary to reform government? I doubt it. There is more chance that the Cubs will win the World Series this year than our elected officials becoming fiscally responsible and enact legislation banning the dangerous use by drivers of handheld phones.

So the next time you are driving on a toll road at 60 mph, it is not the massive debt and inefficiency of state government that should be worried about, it is that car next to you or ahead of you in which the driver is using a handheld cellphone.

Victor A. Darst

West Dundee