Driving While Stupid by Dave Barry

            Distracted driving, is just as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the National Safety Council, nearly two million car accidents, annually, are caused by distracted drivers. Dave Barry, author of Driving While Stupid, has traveled the world and witnessed countless examples of distracted drivers. Although behind the wheel of a vehicle, driving comes second to reading, eating, and even shaving, to name a few. Defensive driving is the only way to avoid an accident on today’s roads.

            The greatest threat to a driver, is another driver fixated on their cell phone. Cell phones, particularly smart phones, have gained significant popularity in the last decade. Smart phones are an all in one tool that offer the user access to the world. Social media, news, music, emails, weather and traffic alerts, sometimes a phone call, text messaging and so much more, all in the palm of your hand. There isn’t another piece of technology that can compete with the power and portability of a smart phone. People rely on their cell phones as if it were an external organ, without it life wouldn’t be possible. In a car, however, a cell phone could cost a person their life.

            During the summer, while on the six-ten connector, I personally witnessed a car accident caused by a distracted driver. This particular person was beside me in bumper to bumper traffic, consistently being beeped at by drivers from behind. Each time I heard a car horn I’d glance over to find the driver fumbling with their cell phone. Whether text messages were being exchanged or statues updated, it obviously couldn’t wait. Just before merging onto 95 I heard what would be the final beep. As I looked up, the distracted driver flew into the trunk of a small SUV, I could see the cell phone bounce off the windshield and land on the dashboard. As if that wasn’t enough to worry about, my vacation to Italy scared me half to death.

            “Where there is only one traffic law, which is that no driver may ever be behind any other driver”, Barry said, referring to motorists in Italy. I can certainly relate to the author in this situation. My parents were both born and raised in Italy before coming to Rhode Island. I’ve been on vacation to visit family a few times, most recently this past August. It was my first time driving in Italy and I felt like I was a deer in headlights on a race track. I was being passed left and right, even driving five MPH over the speed limit. My death grip on the steering wheel became tighter when I peered in the rear view mirror. I was being tailgated by an older lady applying lip stick and mascara. Not only was she distracted, she was driving like a maniac. Fortunately I was quick to notice her and allowed her to pass when I had an opportunity to pull over. If it wasn’t for “defensive driving” an accident may have put a damper on the vacation.

            Too many people drive carelessly and don’t realize that their life and the lives of others are at risk when they get behind the wheel of a car. Driving responsibly requires focus, discipline, and the ability to react. The driver needs to be aware of traffic laws, other drivers, and pedestrians, a prime example of multitasking. Any added distractions are unnecessary and dangerous. Although Barry turned his experiences into a standup routine, driving distracted isn’t a laughing matter.