How Do We Fight Distracted Driving?

A first responder was laid to rest this week in our area. He was out on a dark I-94 roadside, responding to an accident scene. Presumably, he'd done this many times before. This time, though, it was different.

In spite of a large fire truck - lights flashing wildly - blocking the right lane, ostensibly protecting the first responders just off the pavement doing their jobs, someone hit Comstock Township Fire Chief Ed Switalski. He died at the scene.

It's not clear yet how the driver of that car ended up part of the wreck. One can't help but wonder about distracted driving. How did a motorist not see a huge fire truck with lights flashing, then swerve off the road and hit Switalski? The investigation, hopefully, will bring some answers.

One evening on I-94, I was behind a left lane dweller, hanging out in the passing lane going slower than the speed limit. After a while following behind, I do something I hate to do: I passed on the right.

As I went by, the young woman had both hands on her phone, thumbs a-blazin' - with the back of her hands up against the center of the steering wheel. The most blatant example of distracted driving I'd ever seen. Soon, she was passing me - now speeding, over 80 mph I suspect - still texting.

After the Switalski crash along I-94 in Kalamazoo County, one police officer was quoted as saying that the current method of policing for distracted driving (whatever that method is) is not working. More needs to be done.

What does "more" mean? How do you think we should police distracted driving? What would you change?

We'll talk about it Thursday morning from 8:05 to 8:30 a.m. on The Richard Piet Show on 95.3 WBCK.

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