Earlier this year the National Safety Council (NSC) declared that driving while talking on a cell phone puts drivers at four times greater risk for an accident and should be banned. The first time I ever heard of such a concept as cell-phone free driving was when I visited Hong Kong in 2001. I thought it was a good idea (for Hong Kong). It was over a year ago that our own Jim Olsztynski challenged us when he wrote of the ills of cell-phone distracted driving in this very publication. His words gave me pause, but I still could not put the phone down.
The NSC declaration did it for me. Well, there was also that 16-year old girl who almost killed my daughter. This young driver was going full speed (around 40 mph) when she hit Dana’s SUV, which was sitting stopped at a red light. There were no skid marks since the young driver was too busy talking on the phone to worry about stopping. Starting nearly six months ago I put down the phone in favor of two hands on the wheel and one mind focused on driving. It is not easy and it has added hours to some workdays. We have to do this, people; the facts are in and they are nearly impossible to dispute.
June is National Safety Month - a great time to renew your commitment to safe driving practices.
It’s All About Me
It is time for some gratuitous self-promotion. Every issue of Roofing Contractor is published in digital format online. Check it out now by clicking on the Digital Edition icon on the front page of www.roofingcontractor.com.
While you are online, check out our blogs. We have recently added sales guru Al Levi and Michael Russo, the former editor of Roof Design, Exteriors and The Roofing Specifier.
Now we have a Roofing Contractor page on Facebook. Just put “Roofing Contractor” in the search box from your Facebook homepage and you can “become a fan” with just one more click to join us on Facebook.
You haven’t signed up for Best of Success? Go to page 46 for information on some of our speakers or get more information online at www.roofingcontractor.com/bestofsuccess. The program promises to be our best yet.
My latest experiment is a daily update on Twitter.com. Check out www.twitter.com/RoofsByRick. Doing everything we can to stay ahead of the curve around here.
Have you filled out a subscription card lately? Please take a minute to complete the subscription card attached to the front of this issue of Roofing Contractor. Qualified industry professionals receive the magazine free every month, but you have to subscribe!
Last, not least, Uncle Rick wants to give a shout out to the newest member of the RC family: Colby Drew Hilling, Cooper’s brother and son of our senior art director, Scott Hilling, and mom Jess. Congrats to all and welcome, Colby!
Rick Damato
The NSC declaration did it for me. Well, there was also that 16-year old girl who almost killed my daughter. This young driver was going full speed (around 40 mph) when she hit Dana’s SUV, which was sitting stopped at a red light. There were no skid marks since the young driver was too busy talking on the phone to worry about stopping. Starting nearly six months ago I put down the phone in favor of two hands on the wheel and one mind focused on driving. It is not easy and it has added hours to some workdays. We have to do this, people; the facts are in and they are nearly impossible to dispute.
June is National Safety Month - a great time to renew your commitment to safe driving practices.
It’s All About Me
It is time for some gratuitous self-promotion. Every issue of Roofing Contractor is published in digital format online. Check it out now by clicking on the Digital Edition icon on the front page of www.roofingcontractor.com.
While you are online, check out our blogs. We have recently added sales guru Al Levi and Michael Russo, the former editor of Roof Design, Exteriors and The Roofing Specifier.
Now we have a Roofing Contractor page on Facebook. Just put “Roofing Contractor” in the search box from your Facebook homepage and you can “become a fan” with just one more click to join us on Facebook.
You haven’t signed up for Best of Success? Go to page 46 for information on some of our speakers or get more information online at www.roofingcontractor.com/bestofsuccess. The program promises to be our best yet.
My latest experiment is a daily update on Twitter.com. Check out www.twitter.com/RoofsByRick. Doing everything we can to stay ahead of the curve around here.
Have you filled out a subscription card lately? Please take a minute to complete the subscription card attached to the front of this issue of Roofing Contractor. Qualified industry professionals receive the magazine free every month, but you have to subscribe!
Last, not least, Uncle Rick wants to give a shout out to the newest member of the RC family: Colby Drew Hilling, Cooper’s brother and son of our senior art director, Scott Hilling, and mom Jess. Congrats to all and welcome, Colby!
Rick Damato
