I just read a great post from Frank Roche at KnowHR, “Your Should Encourage Your Employees to Drive Drunk.”  According to the post, you’re 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident when distracted by a phone call than if you were driving drunk.  I wonder if the number is not higher!

The article reminded me of a recent trip with a colleague.  He asked me if I would mind if he made a call – his car, his responsibility, no problem from me.  A few seconds later, however, I was seriously questioning my response to him.  He was looking up a number when he moved over to the adjacent lane (on an interstate highway) and nearly hit the car next to us.  Had it not been for the other driver being alert, there would have been a serious accident.  And, although he didn’t come close again, he was definitely not keeping his mind focused on the task at hand – driving the damn car!

I’m not sure that hands-free devices makes any difference.  It’s the distraction that’s the problem, not the number of hands on the wheel.

As a student pilot years ago, I always remember what my instructor said about handling in-flight emergencies, “First, fly the plane.”  It doesn’t make any difference what else is going on, you have to fly the plane or you’re going to die.

I think the same thing holds true about cars:  first, drive the car!  Forget the hot bod on the street corner, forget the new dream car that flashed past you, forget the fact your phone is ringing, forget the french fry you dropped, forget the makeup smear – just drive the damn car!

I’m all for doing something different about cell phones, but I’m not ready to make it against the law.  As an experienced pilot and automobile driver, I can safely talk on the phone and drive the car … all I have to do is remember that the car comes first – forget everything else.  I would be very much in favor of a testing program that would determine whether or not you’re qualified to drive and talk at the same time.  Put a decal on the license plate that says you’re good to go.  Those without the sticker and on the phone – let’s hope we can catch them and throw them in the moat before they kill or seriously injure someone … besides themselves.

Yes, I know it’s not politically correct, but it would solve the issue pretty quickly.  Be safe … drive the damn car!