Written on July 26, 2011 by Mz Gina

Yes, ‘texting’ while driving is dangerous, but so is the other 100 things people find to do while driving. I am a big fan of multi-tasking and time management, but there is a point one has to admit something is wrong with this picture. Just how safe are you, how about those around you, is this legal?

The other day while driving on the highway, this older lady, perhaps mid to late sixties, was driving and drifting from side to side in her lane. The drivers window was open a bit and a white ‘poofy’ thing was sticking out -that would be her pooch. After a stretch we all came to a red light, the pooch appeared to be a Scottish Terrier on her lap which she held with her left arm. He was enjoying the cool air blowing on his face. The lady’s right hand was holding what appeared to be a 7-11 coffee cup, while her pursed lips tightly held onto the lit cigarette she was smoking with this long ash as the end of it. Wow, now who exactly is holding onto the steering wheel?

I love when you pass a car on the expressway and the driver is watching a movie. Now take a good engrossing movie, one that holds your attention, like Transformers (2007), that you just can not turn away from, who is driving? “Jesus take the wheel!”

Morning rush hour on a busy highway, I spot a gentleman in a suit, reading the newspaper that is sprawled out across the steering wheel while eating a bagel. Breakfast with a window view, better known as your windshield! Have you noticed you are driving and people are coming onto the highway in your lane? Hope the news is boring enough so the road has some of your attention.

My beautiful niece comes to visit last week. Stopping by before going to work. That beautiful face in a cute outfit, leaving 15 minutes later than she should have, lets us know she forgot to put on her make-up while here. “No big deal I’ll just put it on, on the way to work. I do it all the time.” So the eye shadow, blush, mascara, and eyelash curling will all be done in the rear view mirror, while traveling at least at the legal speed limit of 55 mph (yeah, right). She does not even need make-up! Did you ever see in your rear view mirror, a girl putting on her make-up or doing her hair? As her car is all over the road, all you can do as you are breaking for traffic, is pump the breaks and hope she notices the flashing of red lights and PRAY! Talk about stress.

Now, what makes people think that because they are on a hands-free phone, they are driving well. When people argue and one is making a point, the driving is not the first priority -it takes a back seat to getting your point across THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING HANDS-FREE. How about sweet talking on a traffic free dark road, think if a deer jumped out you are ready?

But the best I have seen was the ‘relaxing’ driver. The seat was reclined so far back that it was in a laying down position. Now picture this, the driver’s bare left foot was up on the window frame. The passengers feet up on the dash board with the right foot airing in the wind and two crossed feet sticking out the back drivers window -headless and bodiless. Did anybody notice you were not lounging out in the living room, not on the beach? People you are driving, wake-up, look alive!

So when in the drivers seat, try to remember the purpose of being there is to drive. Perhaps a little less multi-tasking and a bit more concentration on the road and to those around you. It could save a life.

Filed under Complex-Simplicity, Me, People.
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