“From One Second to the Next,” by Werner Herzog.

There’s been a lot in the news lately about campaigns against texting and driving. As teens head back to school and parents are back on the road for another year of kid-taxi duty, it’s worth heeding the safety warnings – and maybe doing a little bit of background viewing. Reader Scott Denham recently shared this video by German filmmaker Werner Herzog that uses stories to make the point.

“I ride a lot in and around Davidson, both as a commuter and as an active road cyclist. I see many, many drivers texting while driving,” Denham said in a recent email. “Herzog’s documentary is of interest not only because it’s hard-hitting and very good, but also because he is thought of mainly as an independent high-art film director.”

Can’t see the video? Watch Herzog’s 35-minute “From One Second to the Next”  above, or directly on YouTube.com.

OTHER READING

You also can find out more about what the law says in our recent  “Common Laws” column by David and Lyn Batty. June 12, 2013, “Is this you? What NC law says about texting and driving.”

See also an accompanying website about the video on GermanyInfo.com.

Aug. 9, 2013, Slate.com, “Werner Herzog Made a Documentary About Texting While Driving. And It’s Haunting.”

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Matt and Julie Zimmerman

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Julie Zimmerman was riding her bicycle on Faith Road in Iredell County, just north of Davidson, last July 4 when she found herself in a scene worthy of any cyclist’s nightmare.

Two cars were headed toward her in the opposite lane and a third driver was coming up behind her. There wasn’t enough room on the road for side-by-side cars and a cyclist. The third driver – a Davidson woman – struck Ms. Zimmerman from behind with her Toyota Land Cruiser, throwing her 33 feet.

“She thought she could make it,” Ms. Zimmerman recalled the other day.

Ms. Zimmerman’s injuries were severe, including a fractured spine and a punctured lung. She doesn’t remember much about the minutes after the crash.

The incident set her on a long path of medical treatments and rehabilitation. Fortunately, the resident of Davidson’s McConnell neighborhood is walking and even running again. She’s still not sure if she’ll ever get on a bicycle again, though.

In February, the driver, Heather Ramsey, was convicted of reckless driving in the case. Ms. Zimmerman attended the trial with her husband Matt, who runs a chiropractic clinic in Cornelius. They were satisfied with the judgment, and said the driver has admitted responsibility and is sorry about the accident.

In the courtroom in February, Ms. Ramsey addressed the court. “She said let this be a lesson for drivers to pay attention to cyclists,” Ms. Zimmerman recalled. “I promise she does not want to hit a cyclist again.”

Ms. Ramsey’s lawyer, Will Willis IV, said, “She’s been extremely remorseful since the day it happened.”

“Heather is a big bicycle safety advocate now. She truly wants to make a difference,” he said.

From Ms. Zimmerman’s standpoint, the case turned out as it should have. “I didn’t want her to get charged with something less (than reckless driving). It doesn’t help the cycling community if you can hit someone and just get a slap on the wrist,” Ms. Zimmerman said.

But she didn’t want to see the woman lose her license either.

In the end, Ms. Ramsey was convicted of reckless driving and sentenced to court costs and a prayer for judgment continued – no further punishment as long as she maintains a clean record, according to Mr. Willis.

INCIDENTS ARE A REMINDER

Julie Zimmerman’s accident was one of a series of crashes last spring and summer that left several cyclists seriously injured across the region.

News of accidents spreads fast in the local cycling community. Cylists and public officials have spoken out to remind both cyclists and drivers to be careful on the road. Last summer’s Lake Norman Excursion was dedicated to injured riders and safety. And the town of Davidson even held a cycling awareness ride last September.

Public safety officials say bicycles and cars have the same rights and responsibilities as any other vehicles on the roads. There are no laws requiring or prohibiting cyclists to ride a certain way, though police say cyclists should ride responsibly and allow room for cars to pass. And they say passing vehicles should slow and be aware of cyclists on the road.

Mr. Zimmerman said he hopes talking about the incident today can help help remind drivers and cyclists to be more aware of one another and to prevent future accidents.

As spring weather inspires more of us to hit the road on our bikes, he offers these words of advice:

“So much awareness has been brought from this particular case,” Mr. Zimmerman said. He said he has talked to drivers who tell him they’re more careful now. “They say I pay attention now, where I never game (cyclists) room before.”

He said drivers need to give riders just a few more inches, or better yet, to hold off passing if there’s traffic.

“I would encourage cyclists to think. Yeah, you have a right to the road, but be safe. If you’re hogging the road, in nine out of 10 cases, you’ll be OK,” he said. But you don’t want to be that tenth case, he said, where a driver makes an error, or worse – has a beef against cyclists and refuses to slow down.

The Zimmermans also would like to see road improvements that take into account cycling safety. In many cases, roads where bad accidents have occurred aren’t designed to handle simultaneous bicycle and vehicle traffic.

“I wish there were something that could be done about it to make it safe. … It’s not necessarily always driver error. These roads are so narrow. If you look away one wrong second, you can hit people,” Ms. Zimmerman said.

The N.C. Department of Transportation offers a brochure with NCDOT rules, regulations and recommendations for both drivers and cyclists. Download it (PDF), CLICK HERE>

Charlotte-Mecklenburg bicycle and pedestrian safety page, CLICK HERE>

RELATED COVERAGE AND LINKS

Read previous coverage of cycling accidents and public safety on DavidsonNews.net, under the “cycling” tag, CLICK HERE>

Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance

Feb. 17, 2011, Huntersville Herald, http://www.huntersvilleherald.com/news/2011/02/17/davidson-driver-convicted-for-hitting-cyclist/ – Editor Frank DeLoache reported on the trial of the driver who hit Julie Zimmerman.

Aug. 20, 2010, DavidsonNews.net, “Cyclist hurt in collision with truck on E. Rocky River Rd.”

July 8, 2010, “Driver charged in July 4 crash that injured cyclist.”

July 5, 2010, DavidsonNews.net, “Local cyclist struck by SUV, badly hurt on Faith Rd.”

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