Don't stop at cell phones; ban all distracting devices

Editor,

Let me say that while banning cell phones while driving and banning all tobacco products and skateboarding on campus is a good start, it's not enough.

Let us consider cell phones. The dangerous factor is not limited to having only one hand available while driving, but also includes the distraction of talking. Therefore, I propose we ban all types of cell phones in vehicles. Also, talking to a passenger can just as easily distract the driver, so let us also ban talking. Music is also dangerous, because it can mute important traffic sounds like honking, sirens and that guy yelling at you as you cut him off. Let's ban music then, too. And since we've already realized that having one hand busy while driving is dangerous, let us ban eating, gesturing and anything else that will take our hands away from the 10-and-two position. Don't worry about not being able to change the station - we've already banned radio.

Moving on to the proposition to ban all tobacco products on campus - this is a good start to cleaning up our air and sidewalks, but let's also ban chewing gum and eating or drinking of any sort, as spills will inevitably occur.

And why stop at banning skateboards? They are not the only dangerous mode of transportation. Let's ban bikes, scooters, roller blades, wheelchairs, unicycles and those golf carts that the groundskeepers ride around in. Who hasn't had to leap out of the way of one of those before? Speaking of which, who hasn't had to veer off their path to avoid a mob of gossiping college kids? Let's ban groups of more than two from walking together.

Now that we've decided cell phones in vehicles are dangerous and students walking and talking is also dangerous, isn't there an inherent risk to society in letting people walk and talk on phones, as well? It is only logical to ban all cell phones on campus, as well as iPods, CD players and earmuffs. Pedestrians need to be fully aware of their surroundings for their own protection and that of others. For the protection of UNM students, we should also ban talking and music on campus, as we have already proven those two elements to be dangerously distracting.

Is a silent campus taking law enforcement too far? I think not. This is supposed to be an academic and learning environment, after all, and the noise outside might distract the students inside trying to learn.

I hope the academic community will consider these proposals carefully and decide what kind of standard we want to hold ourselves to. Let's show Albuquerque that we mean business and that our academics and safety come first. In light of recent proposals, I think this is the logical next step and our inevitable future.

Bethany Claire Weeks

UNM student