Distracted Driving

One of the hottest topics going around is "distracted driving," especially in the state where I am, Ohio. While they took a little longer to pass statewide legislation about it (39th), it has been hotly discussed. Effective September 1, 2012 we have laws on the books about distracted driving. And yes, it applies to everyone on the roads in the state, even if you are from a different one, just visiting or passing through.

The Ohio ban on distracted is best simply explained as:

• Statewide on text messaging by all drivers (sending or reading).
• Drivers under the age of 18, use of all portable electronic devices prohibited.

Basically what this translate into, as an adult, if pulled over for another violation, they can add this to the ticket as a fee on top of the original ticket (about $150). Like how the first seat belt act was passed before "Click It or Ticket," they couldn't pull you over for that unless you did something else first (reckless driving, speeding, blowing a stop sign or stop light, etc.). If you are under 18, it means $150 and a 60-day suspension of license. For teens with multiple violations, fines max out at $300 with possible loss of driver’s license for a year.

Now, that sounds simple, but you need to keep a few things in mind. They aren't just talking about distracted driving due to texting. Some municipalities, cities, and counties also specify that the use of a DVD player in the front seat, using a touch-screen GPS, eating, drinking, applying makeup, shaving, brushing your teeth, changing the CD player, iPod or radio, and even a hands-free call as distracted driving.  The local law can override the state law. The state law is the MINIMUM, the local ones are the MAXIMUM.

So, my suggestions? Spend a few minutes online to research what laws apply to where you live, but also where you might travel for vacation or work. And, please, keep your hands on the steering wheel and check your mirrors every 30 seconds. Get a "ride buddy" to do all the work you need done while focusing on the road in front, behind, and beside you. Pull over to take a phone call, answer a text, or check your email.

Take the Rabbit Trail

Most of us travel a lot by vehicle, and we typically take the most "recommended" ways according to our GPS or Google Maps. I've been driving to a soccer tournament that is 110 miles from where I live, and yesterday I took the recommended route and accomplished it in about 2 hours. On the way back along the same roads, I stopped counting the State Police cars at 20. Today I engaged something my grandfather taught me, which was "never travel the same path twice in a row, lest someone catch and punish you."

I would be remiss to not share that he was referring to the fact that he imprinted that on my mind since I was a very young boy. I will drive to the grocery store on one path, but return by another. I noticed it yesterday because I took the same path back that to used to get there, and stopped counting the state trooper cars when I got to 20. Today I decided to get off the highway and take some rabbit trails (back-country roads) instead. I saved the $7 tolls by not taking the highway, reduced my mileage by 20 (which is one gallon of gas on my vehicle, saving me $3.55), only increased my travel time by 28 minutes, and that presented me with some discoveries about the surroundings of where I live.

What I discovered today by doing that:

• A drive-in movie location that has been operating since the 50's that is showing the CURRENT releases. Yeah, I'm going there next weekend to watch the new Three Stooges & Avengers double header.
• Stopping on a side road, I got to watch a mother opossum and her 2 babies walk across the road
• I spied a man on a scaffolding of 3 ladders lashed together by rope in the back of a pickup bed, freshly painting a Mail Pouch Chew ad on the side of a barn built in 1816.
• A diner that started in a 1950's streetcar trolley that is still open and offering breakfast all day long. It had a police car from the 50s on the roof.
• Stopping on the road apron to watch 2 bulls butting heads. It was a TRUE bullfight. They were butting heads, locking horns and really going at it. Have YOU ever seen that happen?
• A true "home-made" frozen custard stand. Yeah, I'm not a big Dairy-Queen fan, but you give me frozen custard, I'm ALL about that. And it was served from the same building in the shape of a cone that became popular in the 50's.
• The main production of Heinz ketchup is less than 70 miles from where I currently live. To quote some web research and based on the fact that Heinz is headquartered where I grew up:

Heinz is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where the company has been located since 1890, and the company's "keystone" logo is based on that of Pennsylvania, the "keystone state". However, a majority of its ketchup is produced at a factory in Fremont, Ohio.

So, in summary, I suggest that you look at your atlas (instead of relying on the GPS), find a rabbit trail, and take it. You'll discover a lot more about what is going on in life around you by doing that... Life is about experiencing and discovering... not about just getting the job done...