We often read about the cell phone users who cause vehicle accidents because they get distracted while driving and dialing at the same time. In several cases, accidents have been shown to be caused by someone doing text messaging at high speeds. But, how about the other unnecessary distractions that are at least as deadly? We’ve all seen drivers who take their eyes off the road to engage in various activities, some of which are absurd. Recently, a major insurance company conducted a survey after which they concluded that distracted driving has become a national pastime. Of the 1200 respondents, ages 18 to 60, 73% said they use a cell phone while driving and 68% said they eat while driving. Others said they shave, read, even paint their toenails in traffic. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Furthermore, we’ve all seen women in the next lane, or driving behind us while applying eye makeup or lipstick.

You may have even been startled a few times when you looked in your rearview mirror and didn’t see a driver in the vehicle behind you. Perhaps a few seconds later, a head popped up as the reckless motorist found what he was looking for on the floor of the fast moving ton of machinery. If circumstances had caused you to hit your brakes during that time, his vehicle may have been merged with yours. In addition, there are people who read the newspaper, feed a baby, program their GPS, search their car radio for other stations and continually turn around to speak with someone in the rear seat; all while driving. The most outrageous admission made to that insurance company came from a young, San Antonio woman who said she shaved her legs, ate a taco, put on makeup and drank alcohol, while driving. That’s carrying multitasking much too far.