Which One (Or More) of These Totally Distracting Things Are You Guilty of When Driving?

We are spending more time in our cars than ever as our cities continue to sprawl out into God’s country. And life isn’t slowing down much either: We’re driving more, communicating more, squeezing more into days already squeezed into. In our workplaces we are rewarded for being multi-taskers—so why not apply that skill-set to the road, right? There are many things to distract our attention away from the roads--but they can lead to fatal consequences. One problem is that the act of driving is often so monotonous that we instinctively seek out distractions.

Here is our top ten list of brutally distracting things people do in their cars--how many of them are you guilty of?

1. Changing Diapers: You’re stuck in traffic, and Jr.’s had a poop and is screaming for all his little lungs are worth. Why not wait for the next light to reach over, remove him from his car seat, grab your diaper bag, pull out a diaper, wipes, and rash-cream and proceed to change his diaper? Mid-way through, the light turns green and you’re stuck with little Jr. half-clothed with an open poopy diaper on the seat as you’re speeding off. Sound like something you’ve done? Hope not…

2. Playing Piano: How about a little Chopin on your way to work? No—not on the radio, but rather from your electric piano on the seat next to you. You can always straddle the steering wheel with your knees as you’re reaching across the seat for those high Cs. Been there done that? Added that to your list of Royal Conservatory achievements? You might get an A at the recital, but you'll get an F—and maybe some lost demerit points—with the OPP.

3. Wardrobe Changes: Not only is this totally dangerous for you (remember that scene in Planes Trains and Automobiles when John Candy was trying to take off his jacket and ended up with both hands caught behind his back and his knees unable to control the vehicle along the icy roads?), but imagine how distracting it is for other drivers. Leave a bit early and find a place at your destination to change.

4. Knitting: Knitting? Really? Will your niece be unable to live another minute without that red and green wool toque? It takes two hands to drive—besides, imagine what knitting needles would do on impact, and I don’t mean damage to your airbag.

5. Dog Fancying: It’s Fido, not Fittipaldi. Having your dog on your lap with its dainty paws padding the steering wheel might feel to you like you’re giving her a great experience. Guess what: you’ll never know—and it’s dangerous. Imagine the momentum that 100 kms/hr brought to a dead stop will do to a 10 LB Yorkie Poo. You might have your seatbelt, but she doesn’t? Is that really caring for your dog?

6. Smoking, Drinking, and Talking on the Phone: Ever see this feat of human agility? Cigarette and cup of coffee in one hand, cell phone in the other, and steering with the elbows? It happens—hopefully it’s not you. Just the smoking alone will raise your insurance rate, let alone getting pulled over for over-distracted driving.

7. Putting Left Leg Out the Window: Everyone’s got to be comfortable, especially on those long stretches of highway to Muskoka—but sticking your foot out the window while driving? What if you doze off, lose control, and speed off into a ditch? Think the airbag will protect your leg from irreparable damages?

8. Putting on Makeup and/or

9. Shaving Face with Electric Razor: How did that story of Narcissus go? Oh yes—right… Didn’t think an Ancient Greek myth would have so much to say about driving in the 21^st Century eh.

10. Typing on a Laptop: Are you this person? Cup of steaming Joe between the legs, typing on the laptop while maneuvering through rush hour traffic? You’ll be in front of that screen all day long, and you can’t wait 20 minutes until you get to work? Besides, what do you think that cup of coffee is going to do to your lap when you hit that unexpected bump?

Driving is becoming more complex—there are more motorists on the road, our cities are growing and our roads are becoming more congested. While these are humourous, we all have our distractions. It’s important that we do our best to re-calibrate our driving patterns and behaviour.