Holly doesn’t like to complain but she has noticed a serious problem that plagues the roads in front of the schools in her town.
She is very sensitive to speed in the school zone. She is sensitive to the tune of $233 in the 2007 calendar year. Holly got a ticket for 8 mph over the school zone in an area that she thought the school zone had ended MILES ago.
The town that Holly lives in has 20 mph school zones
Legend: fancy orange squares=school zone with a 20 mph speed limit
In 2007 the townspeople of Holly’s town voted to ban cell phones in school zones.
Holly’s full disclosure: Holly voted against such a thing but isn’t bitter that she was not on the winning side except that she might still be a bit bitter since she is now writing this in her very own blog that you are currently reading but she wants to disclose her vote even though in the United States of America voting is a private issue but she would feel much better if you knew the way she voted since it might in some small way affect the way she views this situation.
Holly would like to add that she is in favor of children and isn’t trying to hit them with her minivan while talking on the phone.
Holly would like to point out that in the town where she lives it is uncommon for children to walk to and/or from school.
Due to the school zone cell phone ban, Holly has noticed that this usually happens:
Legend: Orange bolts of lightening=slamming of brakes along with the simultaneous drop of phone into the lap
Holly has looked around and noticed that she isn’t the only one with coordination problems. It appears that most drivers are finding it difficult to slam on their brakes WHILE pausing their phone conversation and dropping their phones into their laps.
Holly is concerned that this new ban has caused bigger safety issues. Holly is frightened for anyone walking or riding within a 100 yard distance of the start of a school zone.
For this reason Holly is calling for the following two zones to be added to the existing school zone. She is declaring this now so that it can be placed on the 2008 ballot for the townspeople’s vote:
Legend: pink colored blocks (*)=Cell phone drop to lap zone, purple jagged line (**)=area to start the slam of brakes, fancy orange blocks=existing school zone with 20 mph speed limit
Townspeople unite! Vote for the additional “cell phone drop to lap zone” and the “slam on the brake zone”!
Holly believes that her plan will dramatically decrease the driver’s multitasking panic. *cue patriotic music*
Holly realizes that each school zone would now need an additional 4 signs plus maybe a few warning signs. Holly is aware that signs like money don’t grow on trees. Holly is pretty sure that Kinko’s might run some sort of bulk sign deal with the town when her two additional laws are passed.
Tune in next Tuesday when Holly promises not to give advice to anyone about anything…
you are sooo cool!! first of all you have an amazing artistic ability… i’m sincerely jealous of…. and second… you come up with the BEST laws!! 😉
YOU. HOLLY…. are my HERO!!! 🙂
xoxoxoxoxoxo’s
Could you please update the diagram to include the ‘no applying makeup, talking on the phone, drinking coffee, breaking up an argument in the backseat, while driving stick’ zones?
(You may need the Crayola 64 box with the built in sharpener).
Holy Crap, Miss Holly. The only other place I’ve seen sentence paragraphs is in the Master and Commander series. Is there something you aren’t telling us??
Um… sorry for the ticket? I think if you wear your shortie, beaver catching boots, you’ll get at least half the population to vote for your initiative. Just a thought.
Sounds like Holly…who isn’t at all bitter about the law of no cell phone in school zones, should run for office!
I advocate the law for other people. Me? I have no problem talking on the cell phone and driving!
I love it! If you are not part of the solution you stink…
Way to be a problem solver Holly! Again the illustrations are icing on the cake!
There is a school in my backyard, we just have little flashing lights to let you know you are entering.
Honestly I try not to talk on my cell phone when driving, but that is a very strange law.
Maybe you should start a lap drop/brake class and make a little extra cash to pay for those tickets!
So much for less is more, eh?
When you leave O’Hare Airport, in HUGE GREEN LETTERS it states that Chicago is a Hands-Free Cell Phone City.
Welcome.
I always liked ‘The Windy City’ better, but what do I know, I’m just a father and NOT a politician.
That being said, I double-dog-dare you to spray paint your new ‘zones’ – I might even pay for half of that fine, as long as you have video proof. 🙂 (Okay, seriously, don’t do that, I don’t have any money)
I once nearly drove off the road while trying to put on my seat belt. But enough of trying to be like you … I like the idea of “call your mother” zones, followed by “wrap up your call” zones, followed by “drop phone in lap” zone. Be careful, though, because when the local townfolk find this post, they’re likely to make you mayor.
*me rolling my eyes*
Some of these laws — ridiculous! I personally think the whole cell phone ban is stupid in the first place. For the most part, driving with kids in the car is WAY more distracting than talking on my cell phone! Plus, I’m a mom. I can multi-task very well!
Love the drawings, as usual!