Drivers: Merely Stupid Versus Dangerous!
Where are the cops? At what point do we, as citizens, get to say that a person is just too stupid to drive?
I saw such a person today. She was driving her towncar and talking on the cell phone with one hand…. and using her oxygen mask in the other. Not kidding. How can such a person reasonably control their car? Why should such a person even be allowed to own a car, let alone drive?
I called public safety, who did not want to seem to have much to do with it. The police are supposed to be stopping impaired drivers! Where were they?
March 21st, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Well if the police are in DeKalb or Gwinnett County, then they are barely staffed to run from 9-1-1 call to 9-1-1 call and don’t have enough to patrol.
Municipal police departments sometimes have enough to patrol, but state government in Georgia comes up with all kinds of ways to discourage traffic law enforcement. Case in point, last night, when the Georgia House of Reps voted to take revenue away from cities generated by red light traffic cameras that had been going to public safety improvements in those cities. Or if that isn’t enough for you, how about the millions Georgia could be getting from the federal government if it would make the seat belt law apply to pickup trucks?
March 21st, 2007 at 10:21 pm
That’s not any worse than the throng of idiots driving while talking on their cell phone and lighting/smoking a cig, talking and eating a big mac, or talking and reading a book. The police never seem to think these people are a menace. Better that she use her oxygen than passing out at the wheel!
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
At least she wasn’t smoking while using her oxygen mask and driving - THAT would make her a really dangerous driver!
March 25th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Georgia legislators have made a commitment regarding our state roads & highways: They have committed to make sure there are never enough state troopers on the roads & highways to enforce traffic law. This is is same group that thinks no seat belts in pickup trucks is a good idea.
If you like a thrill, try anywhere on the east side of 285 on a late Saturday night. If you like to weave in and out of traffic driving in the high 90’s, you’ll find plenty of company.
May 9th, 2007 at 1:01 am
They were too busy pulling me over for having an expired tag, because my forgetting to pay 50 bucks to line the coffers of Fulton this year makes me a real demon on wheels.
Beat cops are far, far more interested in dealing with small-time, trivial offenses that generate revenue for the county or state than they are with actually getting dangerous lunatics off the road.