Her expression was priceless, but alarming. Her lips moved, but nothing came out. My heart went out to her as it would for a scared child. I tried, and failed, to muster up some firmness when I said, “You were reading instead of watching the road.” She started to cry, and between the tears she sobbed, “I’ll never read in the car again, I swear.”
Mission inadvertently accomplished.
It had not been my intention to hit the horn, and only because the gods are kind did my honking and the woman’s reaction to it not cause a major incident. It helped that traffic was minimal by the time it all happened — and that will be precisely what I will look for whenever I feel the need to hit my steering wheel again. I dare not risk another slip of the hand.
I’m not saying I would take it upon myself to train untrained drivers in such a brutal tactic. That’s not my place. I’m saying that under the right circumstances it wouldn’t bother me if that particular incident happened again and again until all those drivers (driving alone), who act as if they’re home, were confined to their homes. I would prefer this by way of license suspension, but there are — and there have been — those who only learn by losing their physical ability to drive.
Clearly horns are not a lethal weapon. While some self-distracted drivers are just alert enough to dismiss the noise, it’s worth noting how oblivious some are, so much so that when someone else lays on the horn near them it can render them incapable of keeping their vehicle in check. If you aren’t paying enough attention to know whether or not that honk was directed at you, it was directed at you.
A courteous heads-up, then, to those who might be reading this as they’re out and about: assuming you made it this far into the article without causing an accident, do remember I’m not the only driver who has grown weary of those drivers who purposefully distract themselves from the task at hand — and I’m not the only driver with a horn.
Article comments
1 - Condor
Spot on.
I drive a lot. It’s part of my work. Most of it is interstate. Cell phones are a problem for drivers; I see it everyday. I also see the two-handed talkers (steering with the knee I presume). I see the make-up applicators, two handed with the mirror adjusted for a detailed look at the eyeliner. I see the carloads of socializing peers, music loud, laughing, dodging through traffic, tailgating, and distracted soccer moms on the cell phone. All of them multi-tasking and really not paying rapt attention nor practicing any sort of reliable situational awareness. It’s scary. I quit riding motorcycles (old BMW’s) after 42 years because of all the inattention that was passing me by, like I was standing still. Do I talk on the phone when driving. Yes, but never for more than a minute or two and only very occasionally. And, yes it does distract me. A few miles may pass me by and I don’t really recall what just transpired. Part of it is fatigue, but I would venture to say that distraction is the detraction from what I should be doing… and that is. Paying attention to driving at speed, without causing any harm, or damage to other motorists, or myself. BTW, wear your seatbelts dummies!
2 - Ruvy
A lot of the locals here use a speakerphone in the car to argue over the price of some item or try to cut some kind of deal (Israelis are always trying to cut some kind of deal, somehow, but I digress), but a lot don't. I tramped a ride home with a guy who spent the whole trip on the cell phone trying to set up some kind of party for selling stuff.
Don't ask me about the Nimrods who would clog up the drive-thru at BK while chatting on the phone.
I'm just grateful I don't drive. All of the worst in my nature would come out on the road here.
3 - Scot
Diane,
"She's not old; she's reading a book!" You have really touched on a subject that most anyone driving today can relate to. Here in Houston, people not only read while driving, they also text message, change clothes, and eat an entire spread of food from the passenger seat. Since moving here a few years ago from Maine, I've seen more rear ends than I have in the last thirty five years of driving.
Of course when people are not mindful of driving, rather erratic behavior becomes commonplace. "I'm in the far left hand lane of the freeway, but I just remembered I need to take that exit." Not a problem. Just zip four lanes to the right in front of oncoming traffic and squeeze by the crash barrier. When people get rear ended here, they call it "getting blue toothed."
Scot
4 - Joanne Huspek
Oh, this hits home. I try not to do anything in my car but drive. Oh, I should take that back. I'm trying to learn Japanese in my car. Damn it.