States That Ban Texting While Driving Offer Traffic Updates Via Twitter On Your Cellphone
Posted By Irene C. Olszewski, Esq. on April 2, 2010
Ok, I have to admit that texting and driving seems ridiculously stupid. Not to mention unsafe. I don’t text and drive. I have to wear eyeglasses while driving (for distance) and I’ve reached that magic age where I now have to wear reading glasses if I hope to decipher what appear to be words on a page (or cellphone display). Being as how I have not yet accepted the latter fact as true, I have yet to give in and buy myself a pair of bifocals.
Picture me trying to text and drive: Distance glasses on, driving in heavy traffic. Four lane road without a median divider. Bzzzz, I just received a text message. I take off the driving glasses and fumble through the center console for those stupid half-eye reading glasses. It’s okay that I have my eyes off the road for 5 minutes while I rummage through all that junk. The other drivers will just assume I’m a drunk driver and steer clear of my weaving car.
Okay, I find the reading glasses (and that candy bar I bought a year ago that has since melted onto my map of Connecticut). I work them out of the case with one hand and slip them onto my nose. I check myself out in the rear view mirror to be sure I look scholarly. I do. Great, now I can adjust my focus on those teeny weenie letters on my cell phone.
It’s my son. He wants to know why I can’t come home immediately to drive him to the skateboard shop. I text back (expertly using the thumb of my right hand) that I’m on my way to court and the judge probably wouldn’t take too kindly to me not showing up for trial.
I hear a horn blaring. An 18 wheeler is headed straight for me. What does that idiot think he’s doing? He’s going to kill me. Doesn’t he know how to drive? He must be drunk. Oops, I seem to have crossed the center line and am driving into the oncoming traffic. Where are those stupid driving glasses? They must be propped up on top of my head. Ah, that’s better. Now that I can see the road again, I ease back into my travel lane. The trucker gives me a friendly wave as he speeds by me. Nice guy. Oh, wait, that was his middle finger. Doesn’t he know I’m trying to text here?
It seems ironic that some 22 states that have laws banning texting while driving actually offer drivers a convenient way to obtain information about traffic, road conditions and emergencies via Twitter … on their cell phones.
I don’t make this stuff up.
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I am still rolling on the ground laughing. You are so funny. A friend forwarded this to me and I will now be a regular reader of your blog.
Seriously though, why do people think they can text and drive? What will it take to get them to stop? How many people will have to be seriously injured or worse before people get it?
And what’s with those states who ban texting while driving and then are ridiculous enough to send traffic updates to your cell phone? Wow. Talk about stupid ideas.