Damn Right You're Distracted!

One of the suburbs here in Chicago is trying to pass a distracted drivers law. This would allow police to ticket anyone caught using their cell phone, eating, drinking, tending to pets or other passengers, tuning the radio, or doing anything other than driving. At first glance, this sounds like a fantastic idea. I spend a lot of time in the car and have almost been wiped off the planet by people who's primary focus hasn't been piloting their 3000 pound death machine. I can almost guarantee that the SUV swerving into my lane is being helmed by a soccer mom blathering on to her best girlfriend about her busy schedule. I know you've seen the guys reading, or the ladies putting on makeup or the harried parent trying to jam a pacifier into the yap of a screaming toddler.

I guess that's why I can't be behind this law 100 percent. It would be a little hypocritical of me. I'm guilty of getting distracted once in awhile. I enjoy a beverage when I drive and have been known to look for a CD so that I can warble a tune during a long journey. Hell, I've even talked on the phone. The one thing I think I do a little better than the average motorist though, is pay attention. Yeah I'm talking to you. See, you weren't even paying attention then.

I'm just saying that we need to remember that we're driving. It's really one of the few things that any of us do that could kill us or others if we lose focus. Sure, those two Big Macs and the bottle of Makers Mark might not be helping me any, but if I were to seize up and go, I wouldn't take anyone with me. If you slam into me because you were enjoying a mochachino and gabbing to your pal while trying to insert your Yanni CD, we've all got problems. Most people think they're multi-taskers, but sadly they aren't. Focus people!

So were do I fall on this in the end? After giving it some thought and reading what I've already written, I've gotta say...make it a law. I wish we could police ourselves. If we could all be a little more responsible and considerate, this wouldn't be an issue. We could let nature weed out the stupid on it's own, but unfortunately, the stupid are weeding some of us out too. Drive carefully. Later...Brian