A Good Year for the Outlaw

In the last month, I’ve made three mistakes driving. I sat down tonight, upon reading the PJStar’s latest editorial about those who drive while talking on cell phones, and analyzed it in my mind. And what a conclusion I’ve reached! To wit:

Boneheaded move #1 occurred about three weeks ago. I told myself as I passed through Peoria, “I need gas before I get home, I’ll stop in Brimfield before hitting Route 78.” Fifteen minutes later, I drive right past Exit 75 (Brimfield exit) and don’t realize it until I see exit 71 (Route 78). So I had to kick myself in the rear and backtrack to Brimfield.

Boneheaded move #2 occurred about two weeks ago. I turn onto South St. in Kewanee, heading West. The speed limit is 30. I take the street almost every day at some point. But for some reason, on this evening, as I reach my turn, I look down and I’m doing 45. Oops.

Boneheaded move #3 occurred just the other day and again involved missing an exit, causing yet another backtrack.

There is one thing in common with all three instances: I was distracted. Yep. I was distracted. By nothing. Whaa? By NOTHING. I was doing NOTHING. I was staring blankly ahead. I wasn’t on the phone, I wasn’t playing with my radio, I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t reading a paper. These are all things, btw, that I’ve done while driving. I still do all of them except read the paper, because at my advanced age (shut up) I have to wear reading glasses. But the truth remains. When doing nothing, when just “driving”, with none of the so-called distractions that cause accidents, I have had my boneheaded driving moments. I’m afraid that someday, when I’m doing nothing but just driving, I’ll cause an accident.

Oh, by the way, my three BEST driving moments recently? 1. Dodging a deer in the fog outside of Canton; 2. Dodging a lunging coyote on Route 78 near West Jersey;and 3. darting left to avoid a wreck on I-88 Tuesday morning when a guy pulled into the left lane to pass and almost hit me as I was passing him. What did THOSE three incidents have in common? I was on the phone all three times. I kid you not. The guy who almost hit me? When I looked in my mirror after getting by him…he appeared to be doing…nothing. But driving.