Zombie Walking

It’s 2016. If you’re like me, you’re certainly wondering how we got here so fast. When I was young, the year 2000 seemed so far away, yet here we are 16 years into a new century. Proof positive that time does not stand still.

            And before we were boomers, all the new innovations we see today were definitely not on our radar. But we’ve adapted as each new gadget has come along and we are now enjoying unprecedented means of communication. But like in all other past eras, problems never before contemplated have entered our lives.

            Today, because people of all ages are consumed by the little screens on the devices they carry at all times, many are zombies walking. The term is now used to describe how little attention some people pay to the world around them when using their portable devices. In fact, so little attention that police everywhere are appalled at the types of accidents and fatalities they never saw in the past.

            Modern zombies walk down the sidewalk and even cross the street glued to their screens seemingly unaware that others exist. The number of accidents they cause is increasing at an alarming rate. In California, a man was so absorbed in trying to take the perfect picture with his phone that he fell off a cliff and died. And there are also zombies driving. Last week I saw a middle-aged man driving down my street while texting and drinking coffee. I have no idea how anyone can do such a thing since in my world giving all my attention to driving is a must. As far as I am concerned, texting while driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence, or perhaps even more so.

            And now we face another problem: the increasing number of accidents caused by out-of-control drones. Something needs to be done as far as laws are concerned so everyone can be safe. I mean, as people play with their personal drones in fields and parks some have hit the windshields of cars in motion. I can’t imagine how I would react if that happened to me. Drones are responsible for countless injuries, broken windows and other mishaps.

            How can we stay safe while the number of personal drones and of those from businesses keeps increasing? We all must speak up and let our legislators know that we want some action to keep our families and ourselves safe. Otherwise many of us might pay a high price because of our silence.