Auto Phones

In our high-tech, fast-paced, Yuppie-crazed society our time-management seminars tell us to effectively utilize our time--in our automobiles as well as in our offices. This has resulted in an auto-phone boom as recognizeable as the baby boom of the ‘80s.

We concern ourselves with the effects of stress in our daily lives, but what about the safety of ourselves and others while we conduct business behind the wheel?

In a period of one week I was in three near-hit situations as “the other guy” was trying to manipulate his steering wheel, shift from second gear, talk on his auto phone and shuffle his board-room notes at the same time! I believe the old cliche, “You can’t chew gum and walk at the same time,” should not be taken lightly in this case!

I hope our legislators will initiate a measure to outlaw auto phones and not depend on the insurance companies to deal with this matter. I don’t believe increasing insurance rates for auto-phone drivers is the answer to this issue. After all, the lives of people are more valuable than the cost of an insurance premium increase!

MIMI LAWSON-FUKUHARA

Long Beach