Years ago, while coming to a stop, I glanced briefly to my right as a bag of groceries started to tip over. I saw the stop sign and Volkswagen Beetle in front of me. What I didn’t see – as I took my eyes off the road for one split second – was the dog running across the road in front of that car.

I found out that a VW Beetle’s rear motor fits nicely in its rear seat compartment. At that moment, I remembered my driver education teacher drilling into my young head, “Never, ever take your eyes off the road.”

During the past five years, I have been involved in many near accidents. Recently, on my way to Mechanic Falls, a driver crossed the double yellow line and, to avoid a front-end collision, put my van in the ditch.

Cell phones and other take-your-eyes-off-the-road distractions are causing too many funerals. Maine law requires drivers to wear seat belts. Why? To help minimize the injuries caused by inattentive drivers. I love my cell phone, but won’t use it while driving. Doing so would require me to take my eyes off the road for one split second. That’s how long it takes to die, or kill someone.

I hope some Augusta lawmakers read this and take action to reduce crashes caused by drivers who think the safe operation of a 2-ton killing machine is secondary to the ringing of a 2-ounce cell phone.

Al Pelletier, Norway