hey...keep your eyes on the road!

Lately, I've been doing a lot of driving. Monday, the redhead and I drove to Charlotte (approx. 90 minute drive) to visit my parents. Tuesday, Nan and I drove to see a friend and her new baby (30 minutes one-way), and Wednesday, the redhead and I drove to SC to visit Mrs. Noonzie (my best friend from high school) and her two little chitlins (more on that later). That was at least 90 minutes each way.

Like I said, a lot of driving.

I have been a licensed drive for 15 years now. Fifteen. That's a lot of years. A lot of close calls. A lot of sitting in traffic. A lot of accelerating and braking. A lot of potential road rage. Not one ticket.

In fact, I've only been pulled over once and that was for a burned out headlight. That happened to be one of the only times I have ever driven without having my license in the car. I told the officer that I didn't have my license with me, but that I knew my license number. He told me I needed to carry it with me at all times and to get my headlight fixed. Yes sir officer, I'll get my husband on that right away when I return home. But when I get home, the headlight was working fine.

God has a great sense of humor.

Anyway, where was I?

Let's talk about driving hazards...

Back in days of old (i.e. 1993 - when I was 16), the only distractions that might occur whilst driving were the noise of the radio or the noise of friends riding with me.

Nowadays, it seems the distractions are too many to number - talking on the cell, listening to music, changing the cd's, passing sippy cups, matchbox cars, or snacks to a whiny toddler, dealing with the heinous Charlotte traffic (this week)... you get the picture.

My mom always told me (when I would get in the driver's seat), "Be careful, I trust you, its all those other drivers I don't trust." This statement would always be met with a dramatic roll of the eyes.

Now that I'm an adult and a mom, I understand.

Case In Point:

I'm driving home from SC today and I've got 10 minutes left in the trip. Its getting dark, its past the redhead's bedtime, I'm tired, but I'm watching my surroundings. I'm a good driver - most of the time - but especially when my child is in the car.

I stop at a light on a busy four lane road and glance to my left. In the lane next to me is a girl around 18 or so. While we are waiting for the light to change, she begins to text a friend - maybe a boy she is driving to see. No biggie right?

The light turns green. We ride side by side. I glance over again.

She's still texting.

Her car starts swerving.

Honestly, I don't know what I wanted to do at that moment. Part of me wanted to yell at her that what she's doing is extremely dangerous and she could kill someone (namely me and the most precious child on earth). Part of me wanted to pull over and get as far as I could from her. I don't know why it infuriated me so much. Its not like she's the first person to do it, and she certainly won't be the last. I guess I know myself enough to know that when I drive and talk on the phone (even with handsfree), my attention is divided. Instead of just being the operator of a dangerous weapon, I become the distracted operator of a dangerous, speeding weapon. I know what its like to think that you're fine one minute only to find yourself slamming on the brakes in that same minute, desperately hoping you won't careen into the back of the car in front of you.

Driving is no game, its a privilege. A privilege that even I take for granted each day.

To the girl who was texting tonight:

I don't know where you were going - maybe to work, maybe to meet your boyfriend, a friend, or going home to your parents. No matter where you were going, I'm sure you have people in your life who care about you, who would like to see your beautiful face come through the door on a hot Wednesday evening in August.

Please don't take driving for granted, and please don't put those other drivers around you (with their precious children in the backseat) in danger because of "just one more thing" you wanted to tell your friend that you were going to see in 5 minutes anyway.

It's a team effort - we all need to get where we're going safely.