Distracted/Drunk Driving

[Jessica]

I have debated with myself for a week regarding this thread, and I finally decided to post. I realize this is a thorny topic and I hope people can be civil.

Last weekend, a driver who was allegedly drunk and talking on his phone plowed into a car carrying three brothers from a county just outside St. Paul. All three young men were killed and the driver who caused the accident remains in critical condition.

I am not posting this because I want to tell you to not talk on your phone, or eat, or drink coffee, or put on lipstick while in your car. I don't think any of these things are bad in and of themselves. But this story jumped out of the mass of sad headlines and truly broke my heart, and it has made me think more carefully about my driving and to remember what my mother told me when I got my license. She said, "When you get behind the wheel, you are responsible for every person on the road."

This may come off as more preachy than I mean it to be. I was just very moved by what the mother said, that this is not about legislation, it is about us taking the time to think about our actions when we drive.

If nothing else, please send out a prayer to this family.

Here are the stories:

Three Brothers Killed (http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5026287.html)

A Family in Mourning (http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5033750.html)

[jmarie]

Jessica, this is sad, indeed. I used to talk on my cell and drive but after driving the bus this year and noticing everyone on their phones in the areas of the schools, it scared me off.

People sit in their cars, after traffic has cleared and don't move, holding everyone behind them in limbo because they are talking on their phone.

Someone rear ended another car stopped to turn left into the school lot because she was talking on her phone. That is a common area to turn, so it should not have been a surprise.

I was just thinking about this topic this morning. I used to get irritated when I had to wait on people to light their cigarettes or dump their ashes off their cigarette...This is a far greater problem than anyone realizes.

I don't know about passing laws, but school zones should certainly be cell-phone free, like the zero tolerance for drugs zone.

[Jessica]

Originally posted by jmarie
I used to get irritated when I had to wait on people to light their cigarettes or dump their ashes off their cigarette.

I hate when people dump their ashtrays in the street. Yuck!

[jmarie]

I hate when people dump their ashtrays in the street. Yuck!

Oh, Jessica. Me too. But what I meant was the fact that they have to reach over and put their ashes in the ash tray before they dump the ash-tray in the street! Since we didn't smoke, our children had heard people say ash-tray and since all we ever had in ours was trash, they called ours a trash tray.

[MrsReber]

Here in NJ, you can't talk on a hand held cell phone while driving. The law went into effect recently and not many people adhere to it. It's a secondary offense so you cannot be stopped for it. Living here, I do try to really pay attention to what's going on when I'm driving. The drivers in NJ are insane, which is part of the reason why our insurance rates are so high. People literally read while they are driving (probably because of all the traffic jams!). I read every single day about people who have been killed in car accidents in the state.

I am constantly telling my kids "mommy is driving" when they ask me for something in the car. If the phone rings, I will do my best to pull over so I can answer it, though it's very rare that it ever rings while I'm on the road.

Jessica, your reminder is appropriate for everyone, everywhere.

[HDgirl]

Originally posted by MrsReber
Jessica, your reminder is appropriate for everyone, everywhere. [/B]

I agree! I was thinking about posting something similar about this. I think drivers don't pay attention the way they should. Is it that hard to stay on your side of the yellow line? I can't tell you how many times drivers drift over into my lane.

I would be very grateful if people would be more aware of motorcyclists. Bikes don't stop like cars or are anything like cars for that matter. I think everyone should be more aware of their driving skills/habits.

Jessica, I really like what your Mom told you when you got your license.

[Wendy w]

This is a very sad story and thank you for the reminder. I see all kinds of goofy things going on to and from work, reading, shaving, even someone smoking pot at 7 am.:rolleyes: I am not kidding.

I had 2 close calls this week in parking lots where the other drivers were talking on the phone. Each of the drivers were going in the opposite direction and had come up a bit over into my lane. One had the audacity to give me a dirty look when she was over too much. :rolleyes: Everyone be careful out there.

[KathrynY]

How incredibly sad for that family, and all those involved in the accident - lives forever changed. Jessica, thanks for the post - driving is a privilege that carries tremendous responsibility and we should always be mindful of that.

[Kristilyn1]

Let's not forget driving while tired! I am the type of person who's auto pilot goes on when I am even a ittle tired---so I don't drive when tired. I think the biggest part of this "reminder" is to keep in mind whatever is especially distracting or dangerous for you while driving and try to be more aware of it. Everyone has a different threshold for what they can do and do well at the same time and it's different for everyone.

Kristi

[honeygirl1971]

What a sad story! A good reminder for everybody to focus on what they are doing when they are driving. A few years ago I was hit pretty hard while I was sitting stopped in traffic on the expressway here. The woman who hit me was not only talking on the phone, but LOOKING FOR A PHONE NUMBER IN HER CAR while she was driving! Unsurprisingly, she also had no insurance... :mad: I was very lucky, in that the woman did $3,000 worth of damage to my car, but I had only bad whiplash, a terrible headache, and minor back injuries. And the woman lost the right to drive in my state (she lived in a neighboring state), although you kind of wonder if that stops these sorts of people. Anyway, I was lucky, young, healthy, and insured, so it wasn't a super big deal for me, but it was an eye-opener about how negligent people can be when they drive! It was rush hour and raining no less!!

I knew someone in college who would read while she was driving! Her parents lived way out in the desert and she would study on her way back to campus after being home for the weekend. SO scary!!!

[doggerham]

I try to remind my DH that driving itself, is a multi-tasking activity. You're looking ahead, behind, to the sides. You're operating gas, brake and potentially clutch and shifter. You're listening for the sounds of other cars suddenly braking, or the sound of emergency vehicles trying to get through.

So, now, add a cell phone (answering, talking, dialing, hunting for a number), a cup of coffee, a cigarette, not to mention tying your tie, shaving, putting on makeup, fixing your hair, swatting at the kids, and being lost!

I've gotten to the point where I don't like driving with DH, because of him screwing around with the phone (navigation, CD, radar detector etc). Plus, I have to ask him to put on his darn seatbelt!

I limit myself to answering the phone if it rings and its sitting on the seat OR drinking a cup of coffee.