sydney

I have not posted here in quite some time but felt I should let the members of this board know about an upcoming Dr. Phil show. On September 10th the featured story will be teen texting while driving.

As many of you know my father (sydney) was killed while cycling by a teen who was texting while driving. That boy will be in the audience and will have the opportunity to talk to the young lady on the show who feels texting while driving is not a big deal. I wrote a statement with my feelings about the issue, as to what they will use I have no idea until the show airs. (Hopefully it will not be anything like the phone interview I did with People Magazine back in July where they used only fluff and not my stand on the issue).

Hope you are all doing well...and as always,

Ride Hard, Live Long and Never Give UP!

Kimberlee

Portis

Thanks for the info. I will record it and watch it. I miss your dad. He was a big part of these forums and they still aren't the same. Best Wishes!

waterrockets 

I'll watch it (even though I'll have to turn in my Man Card for watching Dr. P )

Thanks for sharing. I got here too late to have interacted with your dad, but have enjoyed the tales that have come along.

Take care!

SugarPILL

I personally can't believe someone would actually say that is not a big deal... there have been so many people killed or injured due to this... Should result in license permanently suspended if results in an accident. That will clear it up and spur an interest in cycling and public transportation.


why not just get rid of the front windshields all together.......


my regards to you and your family.

pdxpeugeot

Though not even remotely close to a tragedy, I was rear-ended the other day (in a car) by a teen driving a huge Ford F-150 and the last thing I saw before she hit me was her eyes intently looking down in her lap...hmmm...I wonder what she was doing.

lxpatterson

man that's really tragic. i remember a few top level cyclists with an australian (AIS) teen was killed by a teenage girl texting some time last year. People like that really deserve the whole f.ing book thrown at them; to be in prison for a long time.

cascade168

It's good to hear from you again, Kimberlee ;-) Your father's presence on this forum is sorely missed and the thought that some good may still come from his passing is good news indeed.

Let's just hope that the kid that hit your father will say something that makes even one person take note and drive safer. In a perfect world, everybody would get the point. My own personal observation is that there are too many selfish drivers on the roads that are concerned with no one but themselves. It's not just texting while driving. I think the bigger issue is that a lot of people need to start showing a little respect for the other people on the roads - bikers, pedestrians, and other drivers alike. Every little bit helps.

Cheers!

neil0502

Agree with all the other well-wishers, Kimberlee. I think of your father often.

I've been motorcycling almost as much as bicycling lately. FROM that high perch, I see the clear double-thumb action of text-messaging teens ... all ... the ... time here in Southern California.

Behind my helmet, all I can do is beep, point two fingers at my eyes, and then point them at the road.

It feels like nothing but a useless gesture, but ... I think of Mr. Jim Price ... and I do it anyway.

All the best to you and your family. I'll TiVo the show. Thanks for letting us know.

Neil

shakeNbake

Thanks for the heads up.

Deanster04

Pun intended?

Blue Jays

If records from the telephone company correlate with the time of an accident, the penalty should be severe.

Tapeworm21

Kimberlee, in full respect to you and your family....

Dr. Phil is a fraud. He never would have aired a show on this if 5 young good looking teenage girls weren't killed over the summer because the driver was texting. I'd assume it's going to be the major story because hot teens seem to make tv more than most. The link to the story is dead but it happened mid-July. What a dope.

And also, how ignorant must one be to say "Texting while driving is ok?" There is no way someone actually feels this way.

operator

To react to this is to fall into his trap. Creating controversy and have both sides react strongly just helps his show.

I am 100% sure that he doesn't give a **** about this issue.

waterrockets 

I actually blame the producers for having to much interest in keeping the show on the air. My wife recorded DP's first five episodes a couple years ago, and they were really good, with a lot of science, studies, and education. Not like any other show on TV. The problem is that it was too boring for the average viewer. The show quickly slid into another Jerry Springer, because that's what gets America's eyeballs

well biked

I've never watched Dr. Phil, but it sounds like Kimberlee has a realistic view on what makes these shows go, and she's just hoping at least some of an important message gets out regarding the dangers of using these devices while driving. I think if it makes just one driver think about it and change their habits, it's a very good thing......it might save a life-

sydney

I have not watched his show in years either, but when I was contacted about it, I wanted to make sure I said something. Now as to what they use - I have no idea. I have come to learn the media uses what they want to support their spin on whatever the subject may be.

This is what I submitted....

When my father set out for his daily bike ride none of us ever imagined the cause of the accident that would take his life would be text messaging. Drivers are distracted enough while driving as it is, without adding additional distractions. A drivers focus needs to be on the road. This was not an intentional act, but it is one that could have been prevented. There are certain things we as drivers can choose to do. We must decide before we get in a car that we are not going to text message or use the cell phone. Parents need to set this example. Many have suggested a ban or law against texting while driving. We have laws regulating other forms of RISKY BEHAVIOR. A ban would be good, but difficult to enforce. What would be better, is for all drivers to make a conscious choice to not use a cell phone while driving. Plain and simple it is a RISKY BEHAVIOR that can lead to painful consequences. Is sending or replying to a text message or phone call while driving so important you are willing to risk not only your life, but the lives of those around you? My life has been permanatly impacted due to this act, as have the lives of my children, my sister, my mother, my extended family, my fathers friends and associates, as well as Patrick's, his family and friends.

You can decide before you get in the car to just not use the cell phone while driving. Just because you think you can drive and handle a cell phone safely does not mean you can or should. No text message or phone call is so important that it cannot wait. If Patrick had decided to wait my father would still be here.

As Patrick has mentioned numerous times, he cannot even remember what he was texting about when the accident occurred. But neither Patrick nor our family will EVER forget the result.

My fear is Patrick's story is going to become common place. A quick check on "Google" produces page after page of stories dealing with vehicle accidents and cellphone usage, particularly text messaging, as well as studies showing the harmful effects of this usage. With the rapid pace of improvement in technology and its increasing affordability, stories like his are only going to increase unless people decide not to text while driving. The generation growing up now has never known life without these devices, and has no idea what potential damage they can do if they are distracted by them.

Kimberlee

waterrockets 

Well said.

2manybikes

Good letter,very nice.

I still think about him and some of the things I learned from him when reading the forum. I hope your family is doing well.

dbg

I think about your father often. I still miss him. And I will forever champion this cause in his memory.

cascade168

Great comments, Kimberlee! Everything you say is right on target. It's truly sad that what one would think is just common sense is not so common.

mollusk

My heart skipped a beat when I saw that there was a post from "sydney". I had forgotten that his daughter (Kimberlee) had discovered his BF persona.

I never met "sydney" in "real life", but only on BF. He was a great man and I miss him. While he could be churlish at times he would also go WAY out of his way to help those in need. We need more people like him in this world.

Little Darwin

I add my hopes that the show makes the point well enough to save at least one life!

Thanks Kimberlee for keeping your father's memory alive in this way!

He is missed here...

norco_rider77

sorry to here about your dad, i send my regards with this post.

texting while driving is stupid, how can someone say its not a big deal? obviously they know no ones who has been killed by a texter

not to be annoying, but i thought id mention that your quote is incorrect. its "life is eithor a daring adventure or nothing. - Helen Keller"

ill try to catch this episode

sydney

Not annoying. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. While going through my father's things I came across that quote written on a card in his wallet. I had never heard it before, so I will make the change......

Mollusk - you made me laugh with the quote in your siggy! Oh how I miss those phases...don't get me started on the Krispy Creme ones.

Portis

I am watching this right now. They are interviewing a girl right now that thinks it's ok to text and drive. She does about 5000 texts per month, many while driving.