Beware of Other Drivers

A NHTSA report says 10% of drivers on the road during the day are using cell phones, which is up 2% from 2004. 6% hold phones to their ears, which is up from 5% last year.

Research suggests that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be in a serious injury crash. Is it any wonder? The roads are full of incompetent drivers to start with. Most drivers have no clue how to handle their cars when they get into a tight spot...and you get into a lot of tight spots when you are driving while being preoccupied with other stuff.

Now we've got all these new navigation devices for cars on the market. As if it's not bad enough now we've got all these people looking at maps on their car's dash and listening to these devices telling them when to turn or when to go straight. What ever happened to looking out of the windshield to figure out where you are?

Imagine some inexperienced driver (of which there are many) talking on a cell phone and trying to get around using one of these navigation devices. When will they have time to actually drive the car?

All I can say is give yourself plenty of room when around other cars. Be prepared for anything. It's going to get ugly out there with all these people behind the wheel doing everything but paying attention to driving!

Tony Iorio