Having recently had yet another “opportunity” to ride as a passenger with someone who talks on his cellphone–or worse–almost the entire time he’s driving, I’m now being extremely picky about who drives me anywhere. What could be worse than talking on a cellphone? Looking down at the cellphone and trying to find contact numbers to dial out, while driving with just one hand and paying almost zero attention to traffic!!
Sorry, friends and coworkers, but it’s just not going to happen while I’m in your car. I don’t care how big a chauvinist you are, how bad your attitude is, or how huge your ego. When you’re driving a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds, you are supposed to be IN CONTROL of that weapon; it can kill or maim a child, an adult or someone’s beloved pet. Accidents can happen in a split second to any one of us, even those who have a safe driving record. You’d darn well better give 99% of your attention to the road and others around you. Lock your cellphone in the trunk if you’re so addicted to it. And that’s as politely as I can put it, though plenty of other phrases come to mind.
From now on, it’s going to be a case of “I’ll meet you there!” if I have to go where you’re going. And that’s from someone who hates to drive in metropolitan areas.