Words Can Wait!

My colleague, Justin Navarrete, posted an article “Ban Texting While Driving in Texas?” on December 1, 2014 that caught my attention. Mr. Navarrete states that texting while driving is a big contributor to car crashes and that it increases a person’s chances of a crash anywhere from 8 to 23 times. He also states that in 2011Texas Legislatures approved a texting ban, but unfortunately Governor Rick Perry vetoed the bill. I have been aware that texting and driving is dangerous and is becoming a major concern, but I was not aware that Governor Perry was against passing this much needed ordinance. I strongly agree with my colleague that texting while driving is a dangerous issue and that Texas’ Government should pass an ordinance banning texting while operating a moving vehicle.

Texting while driving is a big concern because drivers of all ages have done it at one point or another. There are various studies out there with stats on the percentage of people who text and drive, but the real problem is with people who actually think they are actually good at it or believe that they have mastered this skill. They don’t stop to think that they could possibly cause an accident that could put their life and other people’s lives in jeopardy. Texting and driving falls under a category of safety risks called distracted driving; acts or actions that keep drivers from safely operating a vehicle. Texting while driving is particularly dangerous because it involves a combination of three different types of distractions while driving: visual, manual, and cognitive. This proves that it not only impacts what we see, but also how we respond and the time needed to process what's happening before we can respond! I strongly agree with my colleague that Greg Abbott should put on his agenda to sign the texting ban into law when he officially becomes Governor of Texas. Safety is more important than a few words!

"Safety First"

On March 1, 2013, Austin Texas passed an ordinance banning single-use carryout bags. Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance can significantly reduce the number of thin plastic bags that can harm our environment, engender unsightly litter and end up in landfills that can take many years to decompose. It can also contribute to flooding by clogging storm drains and creeks. It can also harm animals when it is mistaken as food. People in Austin now have the option of bringing their own bags or purchase a reusable bag at checkout. Approximately 9 cities in Texas have enacted the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance, but Legislature has failed to educate people of the potential hazard of cross contamination. Reducing the use of plastic is great for our environment, but I encourage Texas Legislature to warn and/or educate Texans on the potential hazards of reusable bags before they allow more cities in Texas to enact this ordinance.

Reusable bags can lead to contamination and sickness if people neglect to wash and/or clean them. According to an article in the International Association for Food Protection:

"Reusable bags were collected at random from consumers as they entered grocery stores in California and Arizona. In interviews, it was found that reusable bags are seldom if ever washed and often used for multiple purposes. Large numbers of bacteria were found in almost all bags and coliform bacteria in half. Escherichia coli were identified in 8% of the bags, as well as a wide range of enteric bacteria, including several opportunistic pathogens."

Many people are not aware of the harmful risks and effects associated with unwashed reusable bags. Studies have shown that San Francisco’s ban on plastic bags has led to an increase in bacterial food-borne illnesses and deaths. Washing the bags is known to reduce about 99.9 percent of the bacteria in the bags. Texas Legislature should be aware of its people’s safety and educate the people on the proper care of reusable bags before more cities in Texas enact the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance. Proper care should be printed or displayed on the bags.