Where Did You Get Your License?

Is it just me or does it seem like whenever you get in your car, that EVERYONE is trying their best to kill you? Holy moly! I almost feel obligated to kiss ground in thanks when I get to my destination without incident.



There are, in my opinion, several factors contributing to this. One; after Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, there was a lot of damage done to the roadways around here (it's Florida; lots of waterways and bridges). There was also a huge influx of workers who came into the area to rebuild. Add to this the fact that nearly EVERY MAJOR thoroughfare in the region is undergoing some sort of a construction project; some minor, some major; the I-10/I-110 improvement being the biggest of them all. Unfortunately, that is route I take to get to work. There's other ways I could go, but it increases my travel time considerably.

Here's where my pet peeves kick in. Have you ever noticed that it always seems that anytime you happen upon a REALLY bad driver, they are talking on a cell phone? I actually passed a woman the other day who was talking on a cell phone, smoking a cigarette, applying makeup, and eating a biscuit from McDonald's... All while driving. I have seen people text messaging while driving at 60 to 70 mph, through a heavy construction zone. The speed limit is 55 and someone is going 45? Likely either an older person or someone on a cell phone. Cutting across three lanes of traffic to get to an exit? More of the same. It is simply astonishing to me.

A few years back, I was watching a show on The Learning Channel called "Mythbusters". In this particular episode, they were investigating the supposed "myth" that talking on a cell phone impairs one's ability to safely operate a vehicle as much, if not more, than being legally intoxicated was. Based on reaction speeds and the ability to perform normal maneuvers, they determined that a cell phone was slightly MORE of an impairment than being legally intoxicated. Obviously, you can always hang up the phone; you can't just not be drunk at a moment's notice but I still found those results to be quite interesting.

I'm not saying that just because someone is talking on a phone, they are a shitty driver. I talk on mine while driving just like 99% of the population does. What I am saying is that most shitty drivers are usually running their mouths and not paying attention to the road.

I think I may have a portend of the manner by which I will pass from this world... Five foot nothing Soccer Mommy is going to be in her Chevy Tahoe, talking on her phone, asking the kids what they want from Taco Bell, and she's not even going to notice my poor little Ford Ranger when she flattens it. And that is how I suspect I am destined to die.