It’s not worth it
I’m amazed at how many people use their cellphone while driving. They have a total disregard for their safety and the safety of others. Of course, you can dial, text, and talk on your cellphone with no problems … wrong. Every study has shown that it is very dangerous and life-threatening while operating a vehicle. Cellphone use causes accidents and fatalities. I had a very close encounter and came very close to getting run over while riding my bike recently. The driver crossed totally into my lane as he was looking down at his phone. Fortunately, I saw it coming and was able to get off the road in time.
I survived, but many people don’t.
Maybe, it’s time to up the ante on fines and increase the penalty for cellphone use while operating a vehicle. I will suggest a fine of $1,000, suspended license for three months, and 40 hours of community service. Maybe that will instill some common sense into where it is lacking.
Please, if you need to talk or text on your phone pull off the road. Care about yourself and others. Remember. On the road — off the phone. No phone call or text is worth risking an accident or even a death over that will haunt you for the rest of your life.
Kevin Cole
Kailua-Kona
What an embarrassment
Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono continues to be quite an embarrassment for the State of Hawaii. I wonder when she asked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett if she had ever sexually assaulted anyone if she forgot this wasn’t the Brett Kavanaugh hearing?
Dave Chrisman
Kailua-Kona
The other side of the ballot
On the second side of our ballot, voters are being asked to weigh in on several amendments to the Hawaii County Charter.
I am disappointed that there is no included voter pamphlet explaining these requests. We need information to decide these votes: Who wants this issue to pass or lose? Who benefits? What are the financial costs of deciding one way versus another? How will passing this change how my company does business or how my children’s school is influenced?
Just because the request sounds nice and noble isn’t a reason for it to pass. My advice would be if you don’t understand or you don’t have enough information to decide then vote “no” on all of them. If politicians get enough two-by-fours to their foreheads maybe next time they will decide to treat us like adults and explain their positions so that we can all make an informed decision.
Don Claeys, MD
Villages of Mauna Lani, South Kohala
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