Texting While Driving

Driving this past Thursday evening on Rt 23 with my 7-yr. old son in the back, in relatively inclimate weather, and noticed an erratic driver near me. When he passed me, I noticed that he was a young man that had both hands and eyes, on his phone, apparently texting. Rest assured, though, that he did at least have either the elbow or forearm of one arm on the steering wheel (it was hard to tell which). He kept veering too far to either side, and would accelerate, then kind of slam on the brakes when he got too close. Speeding up and slowing down. I wound up trying to pass him, then he would suddenly wake up and pass me, over and over again.

Is it too draconian to think that maybe, when people get caught like that, they should automatically lose their license for several months, if not longer? Such a stupid risk, and he might only realize it once he has seriously hurt someone. Hopefully only himself, but he might take others with him in his stupidity and overconfidence.

We can all be guilty of being a bit careless while behind the wheel. But taking unnecessary risks that could jeopardize lives, and making a pattern of bad behavior where you make the same irresponsible mistake, time and time again, is a crime.

I have to assume that, since that guy seemed to be in a relative comfort zone driving the way that I spotted him driving (and not pulling over), that he then assume it is perfectly normal and acceptable to do stuff like that. There is no way for me to know this, let alone prove it. But I'd be willing to bet that that guy does this kind of thing regularly. He seemed so blasé about it when I saw him, that I would be shocked if he has not done this before. Probably many times. Maybe just about every time that he drives, even. Maybe, the only thing that will get him to stop is an accident. I really feel bad for whoever is destined to be the one involved with him in that regard (assuming he takes someone with him, rather than wrapping his car around a telephone pole or a tree).

It really annoys me when people are, one way or another, wrapped up so much in their own little world while driving, that they begin to ignore other drivers. It annoys me on a certain level when people do little things, not nearly so risky and dangerous as what this kid was doing, such as when they slow way down and seem to be lost, looking around, searching for a street and slowing down traffic behind them, not caring if a line is forming or not. Pull over, check the map, do what you have to do. But  don't bother everyone else, and make your problem their problem.

Another thing that annoys me quite a bit more when people take active, and unnecessary risks, that can be dangerous, even very dangerous, such as cutting off three lanes of traffic to get from all the way on the left to all the way to the right to take an exit. That always drives me nuts, because it is so irresponsible, inconsiderate, and dangerous. It always bothers me when people hover in the left lane to begin with, since it is supposed to be the passing lane. Yet, there are tons of people who go to the left lane and stay there, and don't understand why it is a sign of bad driving.

Yet another thing that bothers me is when people reverse along the shoulders of a busy highway, because they missed their exit (perhaps even because they were all the way in the left lane - the passing lane - and could not make it over). Whether or not it is because you were a little absent-minded and not quite paying attention, or perhaps because of unfamiliarity with the terrain, it seems more logical - as well as far safer - simply to resign yourself to having missed it, and then taking the next available u-turn and correcting it. I have missed my exit too, on occasion. But then, I feel it is my just punishment to go that extra distance and take that extra time for my absent-mindedness.

Of course, drunk driving is probably the worst offense. Because there, you are essentially impaired, for all intents and purposes, from being physically capable of functional driving. I certainly do not think it is even necessary to get into the evils of drunk driving. But people do it, and all the time.

But all that said, texting while driving perhaps is, in some respects, worse than drunk driving. I say this because, while people drink, and often one or two drinks and do not feel drunk. Sometimes, they know, and resist, and yes, obviously, this is very dangerous. Yet others have drinking problems. But in most cases, people may drive at levels where they are officially drunk, but they probably believe themselves to be more sober than they actually are. They overestimate their own ability to "handle" drinks, or underestimate just how much the drinks might have affected them. I am not excusing them, but it happens, and at the very least, I don't think that it is necessarily done with evil intent. That said, they deserve what punishment comes to them if and when caught, because it is irresponsible.

Texting, on the other hand, is a choice. Texting is not substance addiction. It is a choice. Always a choice, an activity that you can refrain from while driving. It takes a simple explanation to explain that you are driving, and will get back with that person. When driving, unless it is an emergency, there is nothing so important that that person has to say to you, or you have to say to that person, that should be done while driving. Pull over and text. But texting while driving is the most irresponsible thing one can do.

That is one of the evils of cell phones, smart phones, and all of those kinds of things. They are great pieces of technology, and have a lot of great things that you can do with them. But inevitably, people abuse such privileges. I see people talking on their cells all the time and, yes, they are usually the worst, most absent-minded drivers around. But texting is the worst, because at least while talking on the phone, you generally are holding the phone up with one hand. These days, you can probably buy some headset or ear piece for less than thirty bucks, so perhaps that is a bit inexcusable anyway. Texting engages both hands (one to type, and one to hold the phone). It also engages your eyes, which should be planted on what's ahead of you. Namely, the road. When people make a habit of texting while driving, then they essentially are choosing to impair themselves, and their own ability to drive. Do that, and you lose my sympathy, like that guy the other night. it is, simply put, a choice, and it is the stupidest choice possible, at that. Perhaps that only becomes clearest when you find yourself suddenly the cause of a real accident. God forbid you take somebody's life, because you chose to continue that ridiculous text conversation, rather than take driving seriously.