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I am outraged--outraged, I say--by Del. Bobby Orrock's bill in the Virginia House that would make it illegal to use an iPad while driving.
This week I read Chelyen Davis' story in The Free Lance-Star in which Del. Orrock said he'd seen a man driving while using an iPad. He also said that when motorists are "snarfing a cheeseburger" while driving, "They're clearly engaging in dangerous activity."
I read this on my iPhone while driving on Route 3 and eating a hot dog. It made me so upset that I spilled some mustard and almost went off the road while trying to clean my shirt with a napkin and Diet Coke.
Last time I checked, this is still America, where we are free to text, eat spaghetti, read the Bible on our iPads, change CDs and drive 70 miles per hour all at the same time.
Sometimes, when I feel really proudly patriotic, I can't stop myself from breaking into song.
You see, unlike those who want to take away our freedom not to watch the road while driving, I'm proud to be an American.
According to a Fredericksburg.com poll this week on distracted driving, readers were almost evenly split on the issue--meaning about half think it's good to be distracted while driving. And I concur. I personally am always at my best when I'm not paying attention, which, fortunately, is almost always.
Thirty-six percent said something needs to be done, but there's no way they're going to give up driving while eating steamed crabs and watching YouTube videos.
Thirty-five percent said Del. Orrock will have to pry both the driving wheel and their iPad out of their cold, dead fingers.
And 22 percent didn't finish taking the poll because they were doing it on their cellphones on Interstate 95 and crashed. It's too tough to click on those teeny little circles at high speed and stay in your lane. They should pass a law that the poll circles have to be bigger.
Michael Zitz: 540/846-5163
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com
