Driving Distractions Come In Many Forms

It's been a while and I thought I'd stop by.

We all know that texting/using a cell phone while driving is against the law in most states, if not all states. I can say that at least 80% of the four-wheelers that pass me have a driver that has a phone in his/her hand, on their thigh in sight, etc. Many times cars on the interstate that are holding up traffic and making it difficult to pass I've seen them talking on the phone (NOT hands-free) and you know good and well that that is the reason they are driving slower, thus impeding traffic.

Well I just saw this news article and I thought I would share it as a reminder for all of us professional drivers to be careful. I know we all do it....

Taco-eating truck driver crashes on Blewett Pass, spilling load of bark

I've never understood how someone can eat a taco while driving anything! The only thing I will eat while I'm driving is a McDonald's cheeseburger. Not a big Mac, but one of the small regular cheeseburgers lol.

I've seen a driver holding a plate and fork while driving and I wanted to stop him and pull him out of his truck. I was furious at the idiocy of doing something like that.

A couple day ago I was with my family in our van, and I noticed the lady next to us was staring right at us (directly to her right, she was passing), and then when she stopped that, she looked down at her phone (in her hand the whole time) and started texting. I hate people like that.

It's been a while and I thought I'd stop by.

Haha! Yeah, it's been a year and a half! Geez Wilson, I started scanning the obituaries to try and figure out what happened to ya.

How in the world are you?

I've been sitting on pins and needles since you last posted, wondering what became of you and your career after your accident. So, how's it going? Are you driving, and if so, who are you working for?

It's been a while and I thought I'd stop by.

Haha! Yeah, it's been a year and a half! Geez Wilson, I started scanning the obituaries to try and figure out what happened to ya.

How in the world are you?

I've been sitting on pins and needles since you last posted, wondering what became of you and your career after your accident. So, how's it going? Are you driving, and if so, who are you working for?

Hey Old School!

Yes indeed, it's been a long time. Time sure does fly and a lot of water has gone under the bridge.

Well, you know what happened last when I was thrown under the bus. I don't remember if I mentioned this back then or not, but after I was fired, I naturally went on unemployment as my monthly bills would not wait to be paid. In the middle of the second month of trying to get hired, my former employer contested my unemployment compensation and to make that part of the story short; my case went to arbitration. They argued that I had somehow willfully violated the company policy and therefore terminated and thus not eligible for the compensation. The judge ruled in my favor and I got to keep what I had already used and kept getting the compensation.

I kept trying to get hired but when the employers learned about the accident, they declined to hire me. I was running out of employers that were local/regional and was starting to get discouraged. I called up the safety director at the company I had an active application with and basically told him that I didn't think I would be able to work for him due to the accident. I went through the entire story with him and he asked me if I had a copy of the accident report. I told him I did and he wanted to see a copy of it. After seeing it, he said, "Not a problem; I can hire you." So after my happy dance, I ended up going to their orientation and got hired. I was only on unemployment for 2 months and have been working for them ever since!

So as you can see, I pulling "sissy vans" now. And I'm loving it. I've racked up over 125k miles with them. It was quite a pay cut from Melton and the "other" company, but I figure it's a trade off for the time I get to spend at home on the weekends.

So that's it in a nutshell.

Well it's not only four-wheelers and hungry truck drivers that get distracted, but BUS DRIVERS too!!! I stumbled across this video clip of a bus driver intentionally taking his eye off the road. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I'm sure you all will have the same reaction that I did when you view this clip.....

Bus driver takes eyes off road for a photo op

I saw one lady sorting through her mail

I saw a man reading a book

And I saw young lady studying notes

So many things you can see from a truck.

Wilson. Glad to see you back. Are you driving all 48 or regional. If so where. I'm with CFI, my truck says Big Scott on both doors. Don't be shy if you see me.

Yes, and there is all the women flashing their chest at us! *OK, think this went away in the 70s when "Free love" died.

PS, it's not just 4 wheelers, passed a "driver" with one flip flopped foot on the dash so he could rest his paper back book on his knee. I know grinding in Chicago can be a chore, but at least pretend you're a professional.

Wilson. Glad to see you back. Are you driving all 48 or regional. If so where. I'm with CFI, my truck says Big Scott on both doors. Don't be shy if you see me.

Hey Big Scott!

I'm doing the regional thing now, although I do miss OTR. I'm primarily southeast: AL, GA, FL, MS, SC, NC, and occasionally LA and TX. I'll watch for you.