Watch the road: Downtown drivers should put away phones

Last week we mentioned the "creative" way some motorists handle parking around the Bi-State Justice Building in downtown Texarkana-mainly by creating their own spaces where none were intended to be.

Now we have something else we'd like to mention.

There's a lot of traffic in the area of Broad and State Line. And drivers don't always pay proper attention to the rules of the road. That means it pays to be alert to avoid an accident.

But you can't watch the road and your phone at the same time.

Our offices are on the corner of Broad and State Line. The location allows us to observe a lot of traffic. And we can't count the number of motorists we see blissfully heading down the road while yammering on or staring at their cell phones.

Of course that's not uncommon anywhere in town. And it's just as bad an idea anywhere. But in smaller, more confined areas with a lot of traffic, many seeking parking and others stopping just about anywhere to pick up or let out passengers, it can be especially worrying.

So we suggest some common sense. Put away the phone when behind the wheel. That call can wait. And pay attention to the road, not your texts.

It's just not worth the risks.

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