Look Where You're Going

     I'm on the campus of the University of Texas a lot.  During my visits to the University, walking campus can be like playing Dodge Ball navigating  between the 54,000 students and 23,000 support personal on campus every day.  About every fourth person you meet has their eyes glued to the screen on their cell phone.  Most are not paying attention to their surroundings as they walk through the crowd.  Research has been done that states electronic device displays cause the same delayed reaction as being impaired by drugs or alcohol.  I've yet had one of those screen staring students run into me but when I see one coming I take a wide berth.  I'm more frightened of all those electric scooters that have become the rage on campus. The battery powered scooters  rage began in September and they are everywhere.  The scooters can travel up to 18 MPH even 30 MPH down hill  and it seems every student is trying to the break the speed limit.  The riders pay no attention to stop signs or any other traffic impediment.  Since they are electric, you can't hear them coming up from behind you.  What happens if you step to the left or right just as one of those 18 MPH scooters comes up from behind you?  Either your going to get  slammed, maybe even hurt pretty bad or the scooter rider is going to fly over the handle bars, probably landing on you.  The old saying "get out of the way or progress will run over"  is certainly true as one walks through the campus of the University of Texas