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A Preventative Medicine Text

By on December 13, 2011

The National Transportation Safety Board today called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging while operating a car. This is a significant step forward in preventative medicine, right up there with cancer screening and pre-natal checks.

Some states have adopted this policy already. Few enforce it. Others will no doubt continue fight any ban. Libertarians may oppose it. On the other hand, they may later regret that your car ended up wrapped around their fender because you had a need for immediate communication on the road.

Cell phone usage and texting have revolutionized personal communications. It has also increased expectations on the part of impatient customers and employers. I have been in several cars with blue tooth users who weaved all over the road as they had intense conversations into the earpieces. Imagine what a hand-held device adds to that.

A HealthDay poll conducted last month reported that fully 1/3 of drivers surveyed admitted to texting while driving. There are 6000 death a year attributed to motor vehicle injuries caused by the use of cell phone and texting while driving. This is up from about 5,500 two years earlier.

Nevertheless  I have had to answer accusers who wondered why I did not answer their call or message promptly while I was in the rest room, the shower or asleep. Beeping phones regularly interrupt concerts, movies  and meetings I attend. Users usually scurry out like squirrels with a nut to take the message.

The fact is that there are few messages so urgent that they cannot wait. So why don’t they? Today the expectation of instant gratification is fairly high. And it this expectation as much as irresponsible usage that has driven the problem to the Danger mark. We need to dial back the expectation as well as the habit if sanity in communication is to be restored.

We read of car accidents, train accidents and air mishaps caused by inappropriate texting and cell phone usage. Reducing the cost of medicine by reducing these injuries should be a way both Republicans and Democrats can agree on to reduce high medical costs.  Stop the madness and decrease the risks to life and limb.

 

Tom Godfrey

About Tom Godfrey

8 comments on “A Preventative Medicine Text”

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    • TGodfrey on said:

      Many thanks for your kind words. I put a new posting up today. I am trying to build a readership of people interested in health care in the US. Tom Godfrey

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