Texting While Driving: You Are an Idiot
Idiot. Jackass. Jerk. Moron. You pick.
That’s you if you’re texting on, looking at or even holding your phone while driving.
Straight up.
We’re getting further away from the days when cell phones didn’t exist. And now we can’t put them down when we’re at a restaurant, in a movie theater or behind the wheel of a car. We survived a millennium without needing to know who called, who texted or who emailed every single moment of the day…annnnnd now we can’t seem to ever be without our phone.
There are some telltale signs that someone is using their phone while driving: they tend to drive slow(er) and/or weave around the lane they’re in or, worse, inch into another lane.
A driver moved in front of me in the fast/left lane and slowed to the point that I was forced to pass him on the right [a whole other blog topic]. I looked over as I went by – to, of course, deliver a nasty look– and he’s TYPING on his phone. Fast lane, interstate highway, driving. Idiot.
Happens. All. The. Time.
Consider this: 3,450 people were killed by distracted driving in 2016.
We’ve all seen the horrifying stories of what can happen in a split second when you look at your phone to read or send a text while driving.
Leave your phone in your pocket or bag. Turn on the phone setting that prevents messages and notifications from coming through while driving (iPhones have this). Or, better yet, just turn your $#%& phone off while driving.
If I see you with phone in hand, expect my horn, and the best dirty look I can muster.
The Law: Fifteen states currently have a handheld cell phone ban — it is illegal to have a phone in your hand while driving. Too bad it’s not all 50. They are:
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam
Oh, and for good measure, there’s this gem from Money.com:
“If you just get a ticket for texting while at the wheel, your [car insurance] premiums may increase a little or not at all. Some states don’t allow insurance companies to raise premiums because of tickets for texting. However, if your texting leads to an accident that causes property damage or loss of life, or where criminal charges are filed, your premiums may increase by as much as 23%. [!!!!!]
“As with DUI’s, texting while driving can lead to serious consequences, the least of which is an increase in insurance premiums. It’s best to avoid these consequences by simply not texting and driving.”
Resources/Links:
Check the law in your state
Money.com: Best Auto Insurance
I’m interested to read about your thoughts and experiences. Got a blog post idea? Send it in!
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812456
Saying Thank You – A Simple Wave?
Civility is dead.
That’s no truer anywhere than on the roads. #canyousayroadrage
How many times have you slowed down to let someone merge in (using their blinker*, of course)? I’ve certainly done it. (I also haven’t done it. #truth) It’s the polite and courteous thing to do.
So how irritating is it when that person doesn’t bother to give a simple wave of thanks ?, acknowledging your kind gesture and the fact that you slowed your commute just to let them in?
Cue Stephanie Tanner!
Furthermore, if you’re doing the merging and aren’t sure if the car behind you actually let you in, is it really THAT hard to give a wave anyway? I think not.
If the person I let in doesn’t wave, I gesture obviously, and yell loudly – to myself – ‘you’re welcome!’
*If they don’t indicate that they’re trying to merge by using their blinker – but you know they are – sorry/not sorry, but I’m not making an effort to let them in.
The Law: Not aware of any laws on waving thank you. Bring back civility starting on the roads!
What say you? Got a blog post idea? Send it in!
Signals: Use Them, I’m not a Mind Reader
Signal: anything that serves to indicate, warn, direct, command, or the like, as a light, a gesture, an act, etc.*
As in, say, a blinker.
This is a really big deal to me because, it would appear, blinkers have become optional. Are they actually optional? Depends on your state.
Here’s the thing.
I am capable of many things, but reading YOUR mind isn’t one of them. I don’t even know you! Why are you putting on your brakes? Ohhhhhhhhhh….because you’re going to turn.
Do you want me to GUESS where you’re going?
And further, do you think turning on your blinker mid-turn is helpful? Thanks, but I’ve figured it out by then.
Aside from the fact that it is against the law (and unsafe) to turn, change lanes or merge into traffic without signaling in many states, it’s just plain rude.
It’s an easy, yet fundamental, rule of the road. It requires a mere flick of the wrist.
Word, dude.
I’ve actually gotten pretty good at predicting when someone is going to change lanes sans signal. They tend to move to the edge of the lane they’re in, closest to the one they’re going to move to. Seriously, watch for it. You’ll see what I mean.
The chances of getting ticketed for failing to signal are slim to none. So, few bother. Sadly, there just aren’t enough highway patrollers to handle all the bad stuff drivers are doing.
So, could you just do it out of plain old courtesy?
The Law: Laws differ by state as it relates to the use of blinkers. You can look up your state here: https://www.dmv.org/safety-laws.php
*Dictionary.com: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/signal?s=t
The Left Lane: Chances are, You Need to Get Out of It
Have you ever been driven (pun intended) to flash your brights at someone in front of you going too darn slow in the left lane? Ok, well, I only use it as a last resort, but….
The left lane is the passing lane. Meaning, in regular traffic circumstances, you go there to pass someone moving slower than you and then you move back out. Right? Riiiiight.
There were an estimated 263.6 million registered vehicles in the United States in 2015, most of which were passenger vehicles.^
That means, in today’s world, rush hour traffic demands that all lanes are at near full capacity, including the left lane.
You know those “Slower Traffic Keep Right” signs? If you are moving slower than the flow of traffic in the left lane, if people are PASSING YOU on the right….move yoself on OUT of it!
This is not just about being courteous. There are major safety implications, too.
Research shows driving slow in the fast lane causes drivers to weave in and out of lanes to get around the offender, thus often leading to accidents.
This video by Vox does a great job of explaining further:
It’s pretty shocking how many people do this and, perhaps, think that so long as they are going the speed limit, they’re cool to be in the fast lane. NOT SO. So, hightail it on out of there.
This cracks me up: http://www.leftlanedrivers.org/. Left lane drivers unite!
This cracks me up more:
The Law: Nearly every state in the country has a slower traffic keep right law on the books. But, believe it or not, 13 states will actually issue tickets for driving too slow in the left/fast/passing lane. Amen! They are:
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Resources: Simplemost gives more context | PBS: Growing number of states fine slowpoke drivers in highway fast lanes
^Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_vehicles_in_the_United_States