Laws about talking on the cell phone while driving, I say why pick cell phones to discriminate against?

There are four types of distractions that plague folks while driving, 1) visual distractions, focusing on something other than the road, things like tuning the radio or reading billboards. 2) Audible distractions, things like a passenger talking, road noise or blaring the radio. 3) Physical distractions, things like eating and breast-feeding (more on that later). 4) cognitive distractions, things that require you to focus on something other than the driving the vehicle such as talking on the phone or receiving or performing any type of sex act. As you can see cell phones are just the latest thing that can be pointed to as a distraction while driving. Even though the advent of the ear gadget moved talking on the cell out of the physical distraction group, it still falls into the cognitive distraction category, which is more dangerous in my opinion.

There have been countless studies about the topic for sure, cell phones seem to continue to be demonized. One study actually shows that talking on a mobile phone while driving is more hazardous than operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Having been touched by an incident involving a drunk driver and the gruesome outcome I find it hard to believe that talking on the cell phone is more dangerous. Especially since another survey of 1200 drivers tells us that 73 percent talk on cell phones while driving. So with all these studies the “experts” tell us they have empirical proof that talking on the cell phone while driving is bad. They quotes stats like cell phones distractions cause 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States every year. Do not get me wrong talking on the phone is distracting and should not be done, even with the false sense of security offered by blue tooth gadgets and cars that dial the phone for us. They have removed the physical distraction but the cognitive distractions is still there, focused on the conversation and not the road.

So what other distractions are are just as bad? After looking around a bit I was stunned with what I found. I found a story out of Ohio where a woman was charged with child endangerment after police said she admitted to breastfeeding her child and talking on a cell phone while driving. That one tops the trifecta list for sure right, breast feeding, talking on the phone and driving. What could have been so important that she would be in such hurry that she had to breast feed on the way? What conversation would you need to have on the phone while going there? These are questions that probably do not have answers but they should be asked all the same. The saddest part of this story was it took place very close to where to I grew up in Ohio, I may have known this person.

I have seen people doing all manner of non driving related tasks while on the road, things from reading a book or the paper, performing personal grooming tasks from applying makeup to shaving with an electric razor. I have seen people working on the computer and writing on paper that was strapped to the dash. I have seen people using one hand to stuff a Big Mac in their mouth while the other held some fries and the cell phone on speaker while they drive with their knee. Now with the “aid” of navigation systems folks are paying even less attention to the road, I have seen the movie Iron Man playing on a TV in the dash of a Lincoln Navigator. Even attempting to change the radio station or the temperature of the passenger compartment can be a distraction. The two craziest things I have seen going on at 65-70 miles an hour were both on interstate 95, one in Maryland and the other in Virginia. One, a guy was all over the road behind me and as he went by in his Mercedes I was able to see out my truck window why, his girlfriend was fully engaged in performing oral sex on him, at 70 miles an hour. The other was a couple full on having sex at 65 miles an hour, him driving facing forward and her on top facing backwards. Don’t get me wrong I love sex but since I turned 19 I have refrained from having it in a car, and it was parked at the time not speeding along the interstate.

I try not to judge people but to me it seems ridiculous that we are going after cell phones, there are too many distractions that cause problems for us while on the road to pick on just one. I think maybe we should just stay focused on the road while we drive – they continue to get more crowded and dangerous every day . Couple all the distractions with the level of road rage and it is just a bad situation all the way around. I do not know what the answers to the questions are but if everyone were to just think for a moment before taking for granted how dangerous that action might be while driving 2000 pound weapon we would all be better off.

What is the craziest thing you have done while driving, what is the craziest thing you have seen while driving?