The Man will be paying particular attention to our driving habits this month.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Local police and highway patrol are expected to be on the lookout for any motorists fiddling with their cellphone or “electronic communication”, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety.
While drivers can use their cell phone it can only be only be in hands-free mode, the state says.
Telling Siri or your Google assistant to shut up and quit interrupting your conversation with unwanted directions is OK. Pressing the off or mute button while driving is not.
Not even if you are at a stop light or stop sign.
The awareness campaign, promoted by the National Safety Council, is an attempt at making roadways, highways and streets safer by eliminating distractions to drivers.
Frankly, I haven’t driven distraction free for decades. The last time I was focused solely on my driving was probably when I took my driving test in the 20th century. Even in the hours after I was recognized as a state-sanctioned driver I was probably distracted by thoughts of the new life ahead of me. The freedom. The coolness. The independence.
Since then not a day goes by that I am distracted, even momentarily, by the thoughts in my head and my surroundings.
Shirley, I can’t be the only one who has gotten into my car and the arrived at my destination only to realize I have no recollection as to how I got there, so wrapped up in my thoughts that I’ve driven in virtual auto-pilot.(And if you’re reading this, Shirl, drop me a line. It’s been ages. Let’s plan a road trip!)
Long before cell phones came on the scene and into our cars there were other distractions that wormed their way onto our passenger seats.
The radio dials and cassette players and CDs were a mere fingertip and glance away.
Unfortunately, the coffee and drinks in the ill-fitting cup holder, the babbling and bored children in the backseat, the elusive french fries in the bag of fast food or the nagging existential question “Where am I really going?” have all stolen our attention while we’re behind the wheel.
We may not be able to tune out the kids or the unsettling thoughts but we can put our cellphones away when we’re behind the wheel. Have a safe April.
