March 2001

Reading while driving. What is up with this?! What on earth is this person thinking?!
Maybe she's reading "Driving for Dummies."
News flash: Cruise control only sets your speed, it doesn't steer for you too!
Lady, I've got three words for you: Books on Tape.

(These pictures were taken by my wife while I drove.)

This isn't the first time I've seen someone reading while driving, and I know it won't be the last either.  One of
the latest trends in luxury cars is in-dash DVD players, complete with little LCD screens and all.  I've even
seen vehicles equipped with Playstations that can be played right from the driver's seat.  I understand that
most people aren't actually going try to watch movies or play video games while driving.  But then again,
I wouldn't think people would actually try to read while driving either.  Auto manufacturers are even talking
about the cars of the future having internet access!  Like I don't get enough e-mail already.  Does anyone else
think that this is all a bad idea?  Or is it just me?  It seems to me that we've become obessed with loading our
cars up with amenities and gizmos that help us do everything under the sun except for actually driving.  Maybe
I shouldn't be surprised though.  After all, we've become conditioned to equate "safety features" with crash
worthiness, as opposed to things that help us avoid crashes in the first place.