Columns / Editor's Note

Editor's Note: Cell Phones, Driving and National Safety Month

Earlier this year the National Safety Council (NSC) declared that driving while talking on a cell phone puts drivers at four times greater risk for an accident and should be banned. The first time I ever heard of such a concept as cell-phone free driving was when I visited Hong Kong in 2001.



Earlier this year the National Safety Council (NSC) declared that driving while talking on a cell phone puts drivers at four times greater risk for an accident and should be banned. The first time I ever heard of such a concept as cell-phone free driving was when I visited Hong Kong in 2001. I thought it was a good idea (for Hong Kong). It was over a year ago that our own Jim Olsztynski challenged us when he wrote of the ills of cell-phone distracted driving in this very publication. His words gave me pause, but I still could not put the phone down.

The NSC declaration did it for me. Well, there was also that 16-year old girl who almost killed my daughter. This young driver was going full speed (around 40 mph) when she hit Dana’s SUV, which was sitting stopped at a red light. There were no skid marks since the young driver was too busy talking on the phone to worry about stopping. Starting nearly six months ago I put down the phone in favor of two hands on the wheel and one mind focused on driving. It is not easy and it has added hours to some workdays. We have to do this, people; the facts are in and they are nearly impossible to dispute.

June is National Safety Month - a great time to renew your commitment to safe driving practices.

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While you are online, check out our blogs. We have recently added sales guru Al Levi and Michael Russo, the former editor of Roof Design, Exteriors and The Roofing Specifier.

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My latest experiment is a daily update on Twitter.com. Check out www.twitter.com/RoofsByRick. Doing everything we can to stay ahead of the curve around here.

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Last, not least, Uncle Rick wants to give a shout out to the newest member of the RC family: Colby Drew Hilling, Cooper’s brother and son of our senior art director, Scott Hilling, and mom Jess. Congrats to all and welcome, Colby!


Rick Damato
Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 770.246.3448.

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