While waiting in the line up of cars for the highway, I sat in my van behind Ms. Gallant. I watched her as she crept along while putting on her face (mascara, lipstick, eyeliner…the whole thing). Later, I sat behind Mr. Enterprise who seemed to be responding to emails on his Blackberry type device while driving ON the highway. Correction, he was NOT driving at all. I let it go for a minute and then tapped my horn to remind him of where he was.
I should have been amused at all of this, but I wasn’t. Instead I was left a musing: It’s not that I am in such a hurry, but can’t these things be done elsewhere? Perhaps Ms. Gallant could have made herself up before she hit the road. Mr. Enterprise could have checked his email after he arrived at his destination. Are we in such a hurry that we need to multi-task EVERYTHING?
Why does it bug me? I have been guilty of multi-tasking while driving. As I continue to contemplate the whole thing, I realize that it isn’t the fact that Ms. Gallant and Mr. Enterprise didn’t do these things elsewhere, it’s that they are so into them that they have no regard for the other people in the world with them.
I continue my muse. Ms. Gallant is prettying herself up so that the world will notice her, and all the while she ignores the world. At the same time, Mr. Enterprise desperately tries to stay connected with the world via his little electronic device and is so disconnected from where he actually is that I have to honk at him to get him back.
It really is amusing?
Guilty! I always put my make up on in the car, er, I mean check my email! That’s what I get for having a cell phone with a full keyboard :-)
I asked:
Wes, Are you looking down at it for minutes while several cars cut into the open gap that you are creating by doing so? If yes, then just pull over and let everyone else get to work (you’re already there – virtually anyways).
To which Wes replied:
No. I would rather be alive :-)
It’s not amusing. I multi-task, too but if what I’m doing seriously interferes with my driving I stop doing it. Otherwise I might cause an accident.
I abhor my co-workers rifling through their blackberrys when they are driving. It just isn’t safe!
I am guilty of ALWAYS eating my breakfast english muffin with jelly in the car on my way to work.
Yes, I have an spot in NYC (got in the lotto for last year; deferred) and the Across the Bay 12K is my favorite run of the year! Thinking about it?
I live next to a busy street and minivan drivers are the most reckless. I think it’s because of what you nicely described: distracted drivers tuned out to the rest of us. Can’t wait for the cell phone ban to take effect in CA, though it won’t stop Crackberry addicts or vain women.