Driving while cellular…

I have been a cell phone proponent ever since they came out.  I had every kind of cell phone you can imagine.  I even had one mounted in my car in the early 80’s.  I knew the local cell phone companies personally.  Back then it was kind of a franchise, where if you had enough money and wanted to, you could operate a cell company.  In any case, I love cell phones, always have.  But I would notice things about myself, such as missing an exit as I spoke on the phone.  Well, that’s OK, just go up to the next one and come back.  As phones have shrunk they have become more ubiquitous and more obnoxious. 

I first started noticing the problem when I lived in Arizona in 2003-2004.  Much like Nevada, that state is full of…nothing…A big empty state, with lots of driving to get places.  It first hit my consciousness as I was driving from Phoenix to Tucson.  Why (expletive deleted), I’m asking myself, am I in the left lane of the I-10, and going 5 mph under the speed limit.  It’s this jerk in front of me, let me scoot out here and see who’s is front of him.  NO ONE…so this idiot is driving in the fast lane of the freeway with no one in front of him at 5 below the limit.  What’s that about?

Then, as I look at the driver, I notice that his hand is in his ear.  He’s holding one of those new small cell phones up and he’s in his damn Navigator taking up the entire lane, and blocking everybody behind him.  Is he oblivious?  Right lane is blocked, but it’s going faster than he is.  Hmmm…so off to the right, pass this doofus, and be on my way.

Next trip to Tucson, same thing…different car blocking the left lane, but same effect.  Hmmm, there’s a problem here.  It occurs to me that if we are not careful, that this activity will get regulated.  Next time it struck me, I’m in a parking lot.  This idiot backs right into my path, and guess what, cell phone to the ear.  Then I notice that I drive like an idiot in parking lots while talking on my cell.  Something is wrong.  What I notice is that when the cell is to my left ear, I am oblivious to anything going on, on the left side of my head.  Not only that, but I’m oblivious to people behind me, and perhaps, I’m conscious of people on my right side, but maybe not.  In any case, it is becoming obvious to me that cell usage has it’s dark side.  Luckily, I have not had a cell caused accident, but have certainly seen drivers texting while driving and driving like idiots while talking on the phone. 

So, gradually and grudgingly, I’ve come the 180 degree course on this.  I believe that cell usage while driving is at least a nuisance, and perhaps a danger.  And this is why some 30 states already have laws limiting the activity, eight of which have an outright ban to any type of cell usage while driving.  It’s got a new name now, called “distracted driving.”  Even out here in the Wild West, our state legislature is considering either limits or outright bans on cell use while driving with 3 bills on the upcoming legislative agenda that address this issue.  While I’m not a big proponent of government intrusion into personal lives, since “we the people” have allowed this to become the problem that it is, the government now feels the need to regulate us.  Unfortunately, we have earned it.