A family practitioner from Orcutt, Calif., is on a solo bicycle trek across the country in order to raise awareness of the dangers that texting and driving creates.
Dr. Robert Okerblom set out on his journey after his 19-year-old son, Eric Okerblom, was killed by a driver who was texting behind the wheel in July 2009.
After returning from his first year at UC Berkeley, Eric Okerblom was riding his bike east of Santa Maria, Calif., when he was struck from behind in broad daylight.
A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that the use of a cellphone alone while driving is equivalent to the risk of drunk driving. In comparison, texting and driving increases the likelihood of getting into a wreck 23.2 times — that’s 5.7 times greater than the risk of drunk driving.
Because of the threat distracted driving poses, there have been at least 10 bills addressing the issue introduced for Texas Legislature’s 2011 session that will restrict or even prohibit the use of cellphones in automobiles.
Most students fail to see the danger associated with texting and driving, but around 450,000 people are injured and 6,000 people die each year on US roadways as a result of distracted driving, according to the US Department of Transportation.
The most unfortunate part of Eric Okerblom’s death is that it was completely preventable. While behind the wheel, it is imperative that you focus your attention on just that. No text message or phone call is worth putting your life — or anyone else’s life, for that matter — at risk, regardless of how important it may seem at the time.
Know the risk that you’re taking when you take your eyes off the road, because tragedy can result from a mistake that takes less than a minute to make.
Dr. Robert Okerblom began his journey in San Diego on Feb. 28 and is set to pedal through Houston on April 5.
