USA Today recently published an article about the increase in traffic fatalities on American roads caused by distraction, drunkenness, and lead feet. No surprise to me. I was on one of them. For four hours. Sitting in traffic because two trucks and several cars caromed off each other and several people were injured and, very sadly, one man died. In fairness, I could have been in any number of accidents over this weekend and may have caused two of them myself, there for the grace of God. We rely too much on technology when we drive these days. In my case, I love using the cruise control feature to alleviate the leg cramps I often get by being locked on an accelerator for hours on end. Until they have perfected auto-autos, that still means we must steer, brake, and make judgment calls. How many time have you experienced an obviously auto-piloting car crawl up your backside? I know right? Scary business.
And then there are those who drive with the cell phone either to their ear or Bluetoothed so they can drive hands, and sometimes, brains-free. Our cars have become portable offices and living rooms. As a result, it is tough to drive without feeling like some lacking focus driver will play bumper cars with you at some point.
You'd think that with all the "smart" technology that we have, that cars would either limit our ability to drive 80 in a 65 MPH zone or screech at you like my wife does when I'm following too close on the highway. Trust me, that screech has probably saved more lives than you'd imagine.
I mean I get it. Cars are one of the few invention that it is fun to test the limits of and also get you to your destination. The personal freedom of being able to move at your pace, to leave others in the dust and so forth is very intoxicating. Likewise, when you are behind a driver that seems otherwise occupied, it is in your best interest to blow by that sucker and leave dying for another day. Cars bring out the narcissist in all of us. You pass my car, buddy, you've just messed with me. And as the Dude says in "The Big Lebowski,"--"this aggression will not stand, man."
Still, with more than 5000 people dying daily on our roads every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we need to figure out a way to reduce the amount of lead in our feet, the number of drinks in our systems, and the amount of distractions in our heads.
And then there are those who drive with the cell phone either to their ear or Bluetoothed so they can drive hands, and sometimes, brains-free. Our cars have become portable offices and living rooms. As a result, it is tough to drive without feeling like some lacking focus driver will play bumper cars with you at some point.
You'd think that with all the "smart" technology that we have, that cars would either limit our ability to drive 80 in a 65 MPH zone or screech at you like my wife does when I'm following too close on the highway. Trust me, that screech has probably saved more lives than you'd imagine.
I mean I get it. Cars are one of the few invention that it is fun to test the limits of and also get you to your destination. The personal freedom of being able to move at your pace, to leave others in the dust and so forth is very intoxicating. Likewise, when you are behind a driver that seems otherwise occupied, it is in your best interest to blow by that sucker and leave dying for another day. Cars bring out the narcissist in all of us. You pass my car, buddy, you've just messed with me. And as the Dude says in "The Big Lebowski,"--"this aggression will not stand, man."
Still, with more than 5000 people dying daily on our roads every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we need to figure out a way to reduce the amount of lead in our feet, the number of drinks in our systems, and the amount of distractions in our heads.
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