In our opinion: One more time, Kitsap, hang up and drive

The Volvo careened down the highway’s right lane, drifting between the white lines like a lazy pinball, giving pause to all behind.

From the left lane, one could imagine the driver preoccupied with a fifth of Wild Turkey, maybe asleep, maybe nodding on powerful painkillers.

In any case, the behavior of the car made every other motorist on the road nervous.

But as cars darted ahead in their lanes, hoping to squeeze past and keep the Volvo safely in the rearview, they could see that the driver had a cell phone pressed to her ear and was deeply engrossed in what appeared to be a spirited discussion.

This all occurred before state lawmakers made talking while driving a primary offense. Before the law, it was much more common. Since law enforcement began cracking down on distracted driving, it has almost disappeared.

Although this and the other more egregious examples of what happens to drivers when they start talking on the phone are not as common since the new law took effect, it is still common to see drivers chatting away on their cellphones.

And as summer intern Julie Fergus found reporting this week’s story on the cell phone law enforcement, one need not look far to find somebody willing to fess up, sometimes cavalierly, and admit they talk and drive, and will continue to do so.

After all, is it much different than eating a taco, fiddling with the stereo, or trying to navigate with the help of a GPS device?

Probably not.

But, at least, the sight of the weaving motorist, yakking away on their phone has been decreased.

For that, the roads are safer.

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