Distracted

I surprise myself. I realize I have not written about distracted drivers. First, I encounter them every day on every road at every speed. Second, in Illinois it is illegal to drive while texting or talking on a hand-held phone. Third, research is beginning to catch up with accident data with respect to distraction as cause. The data is hard to capture but electronics are making it easier. Phone records prove a phone was in use for voice or texting purposes at times near the crash.

In our family the phone is left unanswered if the driver is alone. If another person is in the car the phone will be answered by that person. If the conversation is important, the speaker phone feature is employed and a joint conversation is engaged without the driver touching the phone.

Of course hands free calling is still legal in Illinois if blue tooth or built in phone connections are available in your car. Still, paying attention to the conversation, the connection (answering or sending a call) is a distraction.

Our rule in our house is simple: no calls, no texts. If you are expecting an important call or need to make one, pull off the road and attend to that business. Don’t do it while driving.

Other distractions abound as well: kids in the car, youthful driver with car full of youthful friends, laptop computer open on passenger seat so driver can scan his emails, important documents or other business reading materials in preparation for an approaching meeting. Let’s hope what’s approaching isn’t a collision!

I’ve seen women fixing their hair and makeup while driving. I've also witnessed nasty crashes while they were doing this, luckily not involving me.

My favorite is the car that lurches from side to side of its lane of traffic. You just know the driver is reading a text, dialing a call, or deeply embedded in a conversation. The driver thinks he or she is doing quite well at the task of piloting the car, but if they saw themselves through the eyes of observers they would blush. They are not in control of their car. Period. 

Dropping, swivel or quick moves of the head usually tell the story. It may take some time to realize what’s happening, but eventually the tell tale signs are there.  The driver is reading his phone, reading a report, or talking on the phone. Speeds slow down, lane changes without warning, you get the picture; the driver is so distracted he will be lucky to reach his destination unscathed.

I’ve begun honking my horn and flashing headlights to alert the driver that I’m on to him. I get angry reactions, but usually the car stops wandering all over the lane, and speeds pick up to natural traffic flow.

Remember, if you witness a truck driver (semi tractor trailers especially) driving while texting or conversing on a hand held phone, call 911 or other emergency number accessible by your cell phone. Report the trucking company firm, get the license plate of either the tractor or the trailer, and especially the time of the incident. Location, as well, please! That will give the state or local police something to go on to report and warn the trucking firm of the infraction. Most likely no ticket will be issued. What’s important is letting the trucking firm know its drivers are taking on huge risks. The motoring public is at huge danger when truck drivers engage in this illegal activity.

You all have your stories. Commuter traffic fouled up on the expressway and when you finally get past the slow vehicle you know the driver is on the phone or texting. We owe it to ourselves, our families, and to the general public to let these people know that what they are doing is dangerous to themselves and everyone else.

Join the ‘public posse’ and help educate these dunderheads.

Thank you for listening/reading this lament!

August 25, 2014