By BJ LEWIS

bvl001@latech.edu

 

Accidents happen. When drivers find themselves in a hurry and not paying attention to where they are going, minor things happen that can lead to major accidents.

Causes of accidents can be simple things. Accidents come from people being in a hurry to get from point A to point B, Sgt. Curtis Hawkins, Ruston police training coordinator and public information officer, said.

“It doesn’t matter if they are backing out of a parking space at Wal-Mart or trying to beat the red light,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said drivers try to get across town quickly, so they will go when the light is yellow, thinking they can make it.

“People in a hurry are not capable of doing what they think they are a lot of times,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said he believes the increased hurry has a lot to do with the younger generation and even parents who are involved in more activities.

“[Drivers] have a lot more time demands on them and think they are in a hurry to get places because [of] so much stuff to do; we have taken on a lot of burdens,” Hawkins said.

Many students think driver distraction is caused by electronic devices such as cell phones or radios.

“[It is] lack of attention,” Chris Gaines, a junior aviation major, said. “People don’t pay attention to surroundings. [Drivers] talk to passengers, or use the radio or cell phones.”

Payton Brooks, a senior biology major, said the problem is definitely cell phones.

“You look in your rear view mirror or people in front of you at a green light not going when they should be, and they’re usually talking on their cell phones,” Brooks said.

The “hands free cell phone” law has been talked about among lawmakers in Louisiana but has not been put into effect yet, Hawkins said.

Under that law you can still talk but you cannot hold the phone up to your ear, Hawkins said.

“There are a lot of states moving that way,” Hawkins said. “For the responsible people, it will be a little more of a burden. For the irresponsible people, it would be a great help.”

Hawkins said it is so easy for drivers, young and old, to be distracted, and not pay attention to what’s going on.

“Drivers may sometimes forget they are driving a several thousand pound vehicle,” Hawkins said. “They’re responsible for where that thing goes and what happens.”