Friday, July 31, 2009

How cell phones can help

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It was with great interest that I read your viewpoint called "Hiding cell phone accident data probably cost lives." In addition, I do agree with many aspects of the dangerous elements regarding drivers' poor decisions, when it comes to driving in busy traffic while trying to talk on cell phones.

Yet, I would also like to point out that during the course of my seven-plus years as the Express' circulation manager, each dedicated driver, including several with extensive military and/or law enforcement backgrounds, who ever headed down to your Burley printing press, all admitted at some point to having a hard struggle staying awake at the wheel.

As we realized this problem, I would sometimes call the drivers as they were en route back to the valley with fresh papers, on their long, lonesome haul. We would do our best to strike up stimulating conversations and to see if any new problems had cropped up during the night.

Some were thankful for this protocol and I would encourage any of your current and future managers to follow the same procedure.

Jim Banholzer

Ketchum