Friday, August 3, 2007

Gripe of the Week

I am probably not the only one but, I really hate cell phones and drivers!! Now I talk on mine, but usually with my bluetooth, and even if not, I am able to do both pretty good. Still, I would rather not so I try to make it short.
I have, in this week alone, seen drivers using their cell phone, fixing their hair, putting on lipstick, drinking coffee etc etc etc.
Now, I am sorry to say this but most if not all of these were female drivers.
I am not trying to say they are all guilty but they seem to be more apt to do these things.
Colleen and I followed a lady driving a tank (suv) and she was doing three of the above items.
She swerved into the curb once, into the median once, and twice almost into the oncoming lane. I finally pulled up next to her on River Road, honked at her and motioned to hang up. Without signalling, she just turned right on the next street ignoring me completely.
How many of you are for a law against cell phones and driving?
I hate more laws, but man, this is getting stupid.

8 comments:

paul said...

If you outlaw cell phones, only outlaws will have cell phones.

Seriously, how am I supposed to draft if I can't log in to the board while flying down the freeway from my iPhone???

Anonymous said...

As wonderful as technology is, in many cases it causes us to detach from those around us. (i.e., e-mail over phone call) It's not surprising that in our "homes on wheels", we are not as aware of our surroundings as we should be. Our portable technology when combined with driving causes us to be less defensive behind the wheel. I'd have to say that for me, the most annoying use of a cell phone is in a grocery or department store. I can't tell you how many times I've responded to a person next to me only to realize that they were on their phones. Going through the checkout line while on the phone is rude to the checker. I've been to numerous ball games when people have taken calls during the National Anthem. There has to be a separate Hell for rude cell-phone users and Communists.

Anonymous said...

Bill,
Can we help it if God gave women the ability to multi-task and not to men? I have no problem drinking coffee while I drive. And lipstcik? I can put it on with no mirror and in the dark. It doesn't affect my driving.

Now cell-phones, that can be very dangerous. I've seen kids text while they drive. I don't do that.

Bill's Waste of Air said...

Ok Tammy:
You THINK you can do all that stuff, but the swerving I see tells me differently.
Mick: I am with you on that!
I have seen so many times in my ebay years, standing in line at the post office someone telling me about their sisters hysterectomy or whatever and not just whispering but SHOUTING so that EVERYONE knows about it.
Once, only once did my friend Ron at the Keizer PO do something I always wanted them to do.
This lady was talking away on her phone, long line, she gets up there, he says "can I help you" she keeps talking ignoring him. This goes on for about 30 seconds then Ron puts the "window closed" sign up and walks to the back. Classic!!

Anonymous said...

There's a small part of my soul that would like to "pull a Thoreau" and live a more deliberate, Spartan-like existence. Technology (ipods, cell phones, computers, microwaves, TV's, stoves, electricity in general) is quite addictive and makes us soft. Most of our homes don't even have wood-burning fireplaces anymore. If we had a major, catastrophic "event", a lot of us would curl up and die from exposure, dehydration, and starvation. They'd find one lone survivor in his kitchen with mac n cheese in microwave while he was maniacally hitting the start button over and over.

Jen said...

Bill...

Are you trying to get the girls feisty with this one?

No comment from Jen.

Anonymous said...

No, Bill, I KNOW otherwise. Can't give a guy more than three items on the To-Do list, or they become overwhelmed.

I'm sure there are a lot of men out there skilled enough to drink coffee with us girls and drive safely at the same time. And if you read my post again, you'll see I agree that cell phones are in a whole other category.

Bill's Waste of Air said...

Ok now this post has not been a knock against women in any way.
I use those examples as they are what I have seen only.
I have seen some really stupid men drivers as well.
According to statistics just released a week or so ago by ODOT the violations ticketed lately have leaned towards female drivers. Maybe they are just the ones who got caught!
Tammy, I am sure you do fine rushing to church on Sunday putting on lipstick, changing the Brooklyn Tab CD and driving, but there are others, Colleen Post for example who cannont mult-task while driving. She at leasts hangs up when I call her while driving. Then she calls me later when stopped.