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Driven to distraction
Page 66
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Essex drivers take the biscuit for eating while driving
Drivers in our industry really do see the worst of the driving population in action. While chatting to drivers in a lay-by in Essex we were astounded by just what car drivers think is acceptable while driving at 70mph in the fast lane of a motorway.
You may think that using a mobile phone is bad and that lighting a cigarette at those speeds is not exactly safe, but one driver told CM he had seen someone eating a bowl of cornflakes. "He had the bawl balanced on his knees and was eating with a spoon in one hand and the steering wheel in the other all while travelling at speed in the fast lane," the driver told us.
Other drivers then piped up with their tales of seeing women putting on their make-up with no hands on the wheel (perhaps they think the car will steer itself); people reading newspapers (let's hope it wasn't a broadsheet or they wouldn't have seen anything through the windscreen); and men having a shave on the go (watch out for the bumps with the sharp blade).
It all gees to show that respect for the road is sadly lacking among road users and I bet most of them would be astounded to be told they weren't supposed to do it.
Perhaps what the aforementioned road users need is a vehicle that drives itself. Programme in where you want to get to and off it goes, leaving you to eat your breakfast or get dressed for work or catch up on the latest news without the distractions of actually driving a car.
And it may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. The US Defence Department is looking for trucks that drive themselves and has had a number of prototypes that meet the bill including some that indicate when they make a turn and can avoid hazards (unlike some car drivers we could mention).