Comments on: Drivers Ed

By: Rihanna

Rihanna — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:01:55 +0000

I myself pray to St. Clare, patron saint of television.

Speaking of which, why does every car have a TV in it that can easily distract other drivers? Now THAT's something to be upset about, Jamie.

By: C

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:38:48 +0000

Kudos to Sadie for generating rancor through her blog post -- I've been trying to inspire readers to take callous pot-shots at each other on my blog for months to no avail. Well done Dingfelder!

By: LL

LL — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:42:48 +0000

maybe that church-bound lady was the embodiement of St Otto--patron saint of parking (or so I'm told).

By: scott

scott — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:35:08 +0000

"If you’re driving is as bad as you’re writing, I suspect you’re in denial regarding your road skills. Or did I miss the point that your writing is intentionally matched to the wit of your rather provincial point?" Interesting that you'd criticize Jamie's writing, considering the last sentence quoted above is perhaps the stupidest thing I've read this month.

By: Joe Schmoe

Joe Schmoe — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:58:19 +0000

Cell phones block peripheral vision, and you are supposed to be using two hands to drive. So their risk is greater than regular talking.

Why is this still even being discussed or debated in any way, shpae or form? The horse is not only dead, its bones have decayed at this point.

By: Roy Peter Clark

Roy Peter Clark — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:43:16 +0000

Sadie: Cool post. I'm just sorry that my column drove you to distraction -- or caused you to drive distracted. Anyhow, thanks for the mention. Imitation is, indeed, the sincerest form of flattery.

By: C

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:09:55 +0000

Dingfelder, you've done it again! Hilarious. I love that your fun little article has elicited such hate-filled vitriol from Jamie. What is a "pouplace" anyway (last sentence of Jamie's response)? Is it a place where assholes reign? Is it a place where arrogant pricks suck at writing? Jamie, do you live in Pouplace? If so, I'd love to hang out with you sometime -- you sound sooo cool. Call me! Anyway, I loved it, Dingfelder. Keep up the excellent writing.

By: jk

jk — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:07:15 +0000

GD Enter buttons.

By: jk

jk — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:06:30 +0000

Jamie,

If your driving is as bad as you’re writing, I suspect you’re in denial regarding your road skills. Or did I miss the point that your writing is intentionally matched to the wit of your rather provincial point?

By: jk

jk — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:04:59 +0000

Jamie,

If you're driving is as bad as you're writing, I suspect you're in denial regarding your road skills. Or did I miss the point that your writing is intentionally matched to the wit of your rather provincial point?

By: Saul

Saul — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 21:58:51 +0000

True. Same goes for drunk driving. Most alcoholics are unfazed by a .08
While we're at it, why license drivers at all? Let people's driving speak for itself.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:59:05 +0000

I think your conclusion from your experience is slightly inaccurate. Rather than banning activities of any sort in cars (on the premise that if YOU can't walk and chew gum at the same time, then nobody must be able to), why not simply require that people be able to drive? Obviously, you can't, but I see no reason why the rest of us should pay the price for that.

I happen to be capable of driving while talking on a cell phone without running stop signs. I can sometimes even adjust my radio, or roll down the window without endangering lives!!

Some other people on the road, on the other hand, seem incapable of driving even under the most benign of conditions. I tremble in fear about how you might react should, say, someone pass you on the right as you dawdle at 10 mph below the speed limit in the left lane, or, perhaps, should an emergency vehicle with very loud and distressing sirens pass by.

Seriously, though. I hate laws that assume that everyone is equally inept. Talking on cell phones while driving is a problem only when the driver clearly can't pay attention to the road at the same time. But why is this any different than talking to someone in the car, or putting on makeup, or anything else idiots do while operating 5,000 pound vehicles? There are plenty of people who drive as badly - or worse - without needing a cell phone to drag them down to that level. Yet they are allowed to continue to make the roads less safe by not using their turn signals, or being unable to stay in one lane, or driving slowly in the fast lane, or any number of other clueless activities that apparently don't bother the pouplace as much as simply talking on a cell phone.